'Explosion' heard on black box of crashed airliner

French media have said investigators heard the sound of an explosion on the cockpit voice recorder of a Russian plane, which crashed last Saturday, killing everyone on board.

It comes as US officials report 'chatter' between Islamic State leaders in Sinai and Syria includes boasting about the downing of an airliner.

Meanwhile, more UK-bound planes are due to leave Sharm el-Sheikh airport later.

British Ambassador to Egypt John Casson has said they are doing everything they can to get people back home.

“What we’re dealing with is a big in-scale, it is logistically demanding, we have had to work around the clock, with the Egyptians, with the airlines,” Mr Casson said.

“But that is why we have built up a big team now of British Government officials, over 50 people, in Sharem now who are able to give all the help and advice possible.”

Sky's Middle East Correspondent Sherine Tadros has said security issues at the airport are slowing up departures.

“The airport simply doesn’t have the capacity to be able to deal with tens of flights and the security measures,” Ms Tadros said.

“For example like only taking hand luggage with you, that means there are hundreds of tonnes of luggage that are being left and that luggage can’t be left unattended.”

New information has led to reports that a passenger jet heading to the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh reportedly had a near-miss with a missile, two months before last weekend's Russian plane disaster.

The Daily Mail claims a Thomson flight from London Stansted came within a thousand feet of a rocket on August 23 but the pilot took action and later landed the plane safely.

The British government believes the incident was connected to Egyptian military exercises.