The mysterious crash that took place over the Sinai Peninsula last Saturday resulting in the death of 224 people has prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to cancel all flights to Egypt until the real cause behind the crash is uncovered. Both Russia and Egypt downplayed the possibility of a terrorist act in the incident but Putin’s decision underlines that Russia could now be attaching credibility to the probability.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and the reports by the U.S. Intelligence analysis suggested earlier this week that there was a high possibility that the explosion that ripped the aeroplane apart mid-air could have been caused by an explosive planted in the vessel. The U.S. also admitted that even though it has not yet been proved as to what could have caused the blast, the incident should be taken seriously.

However the Kremlin has clarified its stance that the decision taken on Friday was not because it thinks that the crash had any terrorist connection. It said that was too early to come to a conclusion as a technical failure could have caused the crash.

Putin’s announcement was based on the recommendations of the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov.

“The head of state agreed with these recommendations,” Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

Egypt gets a large number of tourists from Russia, which makes up around 30 percent of the tourists the country gets annually. The United Kingdom has also suspended all flights to Sharm el-Sheikh and is flying all Britons home from there. This is already causing concern amongst local shopkeepers and hoteliers.

"I don't know what tomorrow is going to bring us,” a shopkeeper told the BBC News. “We are already suffering."

Samples from the crash site have been taken to Moscow for investigation.

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