Viktor Yung

Only an external impact could have caused a Russian plane to dive into the Egyptian desert, killing all 224 people on board, the airline said on Nov. 2, adding to a series of incomplete and confusing statements from investigators that left unclear why the plane broke up in mid-flight.

Russian airline Kogalymavia, which operated the Airbus A321 that crashed in Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Saturday, has blamed the crash on a midair mechanical impact.

According to a senior manager of the company, the crash resulted from a major damage caused to the airplane's frame in flight.