French President François Hollande offered condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the victims of a Russian plane crash that took place earlier in the day in Egypt's Sinai area.

In statements, Hollande expressed his country's solidarity with the families of the victims and the Russian people.

Earlier, a Russian plane, carrying 217 people along with 7-crew members, vanished from radar after taking off from Sharm el Sheikh on its way to the Russian city of St Petersburg.

The plane took off at 5:51 am (Cairo time) and disappeared from the radars, after 23 minutes of taking off.

Source: MENA