Egypt – Explosion Likely Brought Down Russian Airliner, Sources Say

Evidence suggests an explosion — and not a mechanical malfunction — brought down the Russian passenger jet over Egypt, two sources told FD on Wednesday.

One congressional source put the chance of an explosion at 80 percent. That source says an ISIS device is under strong consideration, but that investigators have not reached a conclusion.

An intelligence source confirmed to FD late Wednesday that U.S. intelligence agencies have preliminary evidence, including intercepts, suggesting a bomb brought down the Russian plane.

The flight’s passenger manifest is being run through watch lists and terror databases in the U.S. to identify suspect individuals, Fox News confirms.

ISIS released a new message claiming responsibility for downing the jet, an intelligence source says. Like the first claim, this one comes from a senior ISIS social media account that is well known in intelligence circles.

The new message claims the terror group was responsible, and that the onus is not on ISIS fighters to explain how they did it, but up to the West to figure it out.

Also Wednesday, the UK Prime Minister’s Office announced the jet “may well have been brought down by an explosive device.”