Egypt announced on Monday its committee investigating the October 31 plane crash in the Sinai Peninsula had not found any evidence of a terrorist attack or illegal action yet, PTI reported. All 224 people on-board the Russian aircraft had been killed in the accident, for which the Islamic State militant group had earlier claimed responsibility.

Ayman el-Mokadem, head of the investigating committee, said the report was sent to the representatives of countries that participated in the investigation and to the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The report showed that the search was extended to more than 16 kilometres beyond the spot of the crash. The committee said it is "continuing its work" in the investigation.

The Egyptian air traffic control had lost contact with the Metrojet plane 23 minutes after it took off for St Petersburg from the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. The report of the plane's black box had also showed that the same plane had flown on the same route for five days before the crash occurred.