‘No survivors’ – but voices heard from wreckage of Egypt plane

A passenger plane carrying an estimated 224 people has crashed in Egypt.

Though all survivors were presumed dead after the plane went down in a "desolate mountain area" in the early hours of the morning, voices have been head from one part of the wreckage, Reuters reports.

"There is another section of the plane with passengers inside that the rescue team is still trying to enter and we hope to find survivors especially after hearing pained voices of people inside," an officer, who wished to remain anonymous, told the news service.

The plane, an Airbus 321 from Russain airline Kogalymavia/MetroJet, reportedly split in two when it crashed.

The tragedy occurred just minutes into the Flight 9268's journey from Russian coastal resort Sharm-el Sheik to St Peterburg.

It took off at 5.51am Cairo time (3.51am in Ireland) and disappeared from radar screens 23 minutes later, Egypt's Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement.     

A report from Russian state news agency RIA Novosti says the crew of the plane had complained of engine problems several times.

The plane was reportedly travelling at an altitude of 9,400m when it vanished from the air traffic radar screens.

Egyptian security officials said there was no indication the Kogalmavia plane had been shot down or targeted with explosives.

Sinai-based militants have killed hundreds of Egyptian soldiers and police in recent months, and have also attacked targets in the West.