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Russian Specialists to Inspect Security at Egyptian Airports

Russian specialists will inspect security arrangements at airports in the Egyptian cities of Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Thursday, citing Russian Deputy Transport Minister Valery Okulov.

The checks will take place at airports formerly used by Russian airlines, according to Okulov.

The move comes after Russia banned all passenger flights to Egypt in November last year. The measure was a response to the downing of a Russian airliner over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. The downing was later declared a terror attack. All 224 people on board were killed.

Earlier this week, an EgyptAir plane flying from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked by one of the passengers and forced to land in Cyprus.The hijacker was detained and there were no injuries.

That incident will not affect the planned inspections, according to the Transport Ministry. However, parliamentarians and experts polled by RIA Novosti agreed that the incident may delay the resumption of flights to Egypt.

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