There’s still no definitive indication as to what caused Saturday’s crash of a Russian passenger jet, despite reports that a bomb caused the plane to disintegrate mid-flight, Russian and Egyptian officials reject the assumption, although the U.S. has said satellite imagery showed a big flash near the plane before it crashed in the Sinai region of Egypt. Islamic State rebels have claimed responsibility for the crash.
University of Oklahoma Center for Middle East Studies director Joshua Landis told KGOU’s World Views whatever the cause, it underlines the dangers of any superpower trying to sort out conflicts in the Middle East.
“Social media lit up with congratulations,” Landis said. “All kinds of activists and pro-Sunni-types were thrilled to see Russia get a bloody nose, because it's entered in on the side of Assad in this civil war.”
British Airways and some Irish airliners have suspended flights into the airport, stranding European passengers. Landis says if a bomb was placed on board, everyone who flies out of Egypt now has to worry about that airport, and potential security issues.
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