It's reported an explosion was heard on the black box recorder of the Russian passenger plane which crashed in Egypt a week ago.

Meanwhile, US officials say they've intercepted messages between Islamic State militants boasting about bringing down the jet with 224 people on board.

Thousands of holidaymakers remain stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Sky's Middle East Correspondent Sherine Tadros says security issues at the airport are slowing up departures:
In a separate incident, 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 the 23rd - but the pilot took action and later landed the plane safely.

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