There is now growing certainty that Metrojet's Irish-owned Airbus A321-200 was blown out of the sky by an explosive device planted in luggage.

Indeed, British prime minister David Cameron said this afternoon that it was "likely" that a bomb caused the tragedy.

Furthermore, there are huge concerns relating to airport security at the tourist hotspot of Sharm el-Sheikh – meaning all British and Irish flights to and from the region have been suspended. 

The move has resulted in some 20,000 people being stranded in the region, although London has said it will begin evacuating people from tomorrow. 

Some 224 people died on board the Moscow-based airline on Saturday morning.

The plane crashed in a remote mountainous part of the Sinai Peninsula 23 minutes after taking off from the resort – where temperature of 28C at this time of year make it an immensely popular winter sun destination for Irish tourists.

Following a similar announcement by Downing Street, the Irish Aviation Authority last night said it had directed "Irish airline operators not to operate to/from Sharm el‐Sheikh Airport, Egypt or in the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula airspace until further notice".

Except for three Ukrainians and one Belarusian, all of those on board Flight 7K9268 were Russian. Twenty-five were children.

Emirates, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Air France have all already stopped flying over the Peninsula, while British Airways pilots were told months ago not to fly in the area below 25,000ft because of the risk of terrorist-lead strikes.