Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has extended his condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over a deadly plane crash that killed over 200 people.

In a message to Putin on Saturday, the Iranian president expressed his sympathy with the Russian government and nation as well as the bereaved families of the victims.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham also offered her condolences to the Russian government and people over the tragic incident.

A Russian passenger aircraft crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, with Egyptian officials and the Russian Embassy in Cairo confirming that all 224 people on board the flight have been killed.

The Airbus A-321 chartered by Russian airline Kogalymavia was carrying 217 passengers, including seven children, and seven crew members.

According to the latest report by Russia’s Ria Novosti news agency, the bodies of 100 passengers, including five children, together with one of the aircraft’s flight recorders had been found.

Meanwhile, President Putin has ordered the government to set up a special commission “due to the catastrophe of Kogalymavia company plane in Egypt.”



[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"] Egypt's Prime Minister Sherif Ismail listens to Egyptian team from police and army at the remains of a Russian plane after it crashed in central Sinai in Egypt on October 31, 2015. (Reuters photo)[/caption]

Messages of condolences

Meanwhile, condolences are pouring in for the victims of the Russian plane crash in Sinai Peninsula.

According to a Kremlin statement, President Putin held a telephone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and discussed the deadly crash.

Sisi offered his deep condolences to his Russian counterpart and pledged to create conditions for Russian specialists to participate in investigations into the cause of the crash, the statement added.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also expressed her sincere condolences over the crash in a phone conversation with President Putin.

Suspension of Lufthansa, Air France flights over Sinai

Following the tragic crash, two of Europe's largest airlines said on Saturday they will avoid flying over the Sinai Peninsula as a precaution for safety reasons.

German carrier Lufthansa and Air France temporarily suspended their flights over the zone until the cause of the crash is found.

By Press TV