UK Forces Will Help Rescue Stranded Brits In Sharm El Sheikh

Defence sources have told BFBS a "handful" of British military personnel are deploying to Sharm el Sheikh to advise on logistics and security. Some personnel are already on the ground.

The source said that the RAF has longstanding contingency plans for airlifting Britons home from crises around the world, but that in this case because the scale of the number of people stranded, alternative measures must be sought.

The source added it was faster to ensure the airport in Sharm El Sheikh was secure and have the tourists fly back on commercial planes.

This comes as Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond warned disruption to flights "could last weeks".

Speaking to Sky News he continued: "We're working with the airlines and the Egyptian authorities now to put in place emergency short-term measures that will allow us to safely bring back the British tourists who are there in Sharm". 

U.S intelligence believes an IS bomb is the "most likely" explanation for the plane crash:

"A bomb is a highly possible scenario," a US official told AFP. "It would be something that ISIL would want to do," he added.

More details to follow.