Washington, Nov 6 (EFE).– U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced Friday that new airport security measures are being introduced as a result of the ongoing investigation into the Russian airliner tragedy last week on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

President Barack Obama cited Thursday the possibility that an explosive device on board the aircraft caused the crash of the airbus A-321, which took off from the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh en route to St. Petersburg and on which all 224 people aboard were killed.

These stepped-up measures “will supplement U.S. aviation security requirements currently in place at all of foreign last-point-of-departure airports, as well as the additional security enhancements I directed last summer at certain foreign locations,” Johnson said.

The secretary explained that while there are no direct flights between the United States and Sharm el-Sheikh, and while the investigation into the crash continues, “precautionary security measures” will be increased.

Johnson specified that the enhanced measures include “expanded screening applied to items on aircraft, airport assessments in conjunction with our international partners, and offers of other assistance to certain foreign airports related to aviation and airport security.”

“At this time these security enhancements are intended only for certain foreign airports in the (Middle East) region,” he said.

“While we cannot discuss the full details of our aviation security measures, or the enhancements noted today, I want to assure the traveling public that the Department of Homeland Security is working closely with our domestic and international partners to evaluate the cause of the crash of Flight 9268, and will continue to take appropriate precautionary security measures,” Johnson said.

The causes of the crash are being investigated and for now it has been shown that the airplane suffered an explosion in midair 23 minutes after takeoff. However, the United States does not dismiss the possibility that the Islamic State was behind the accident. EFE