A sister organisation to Boko Haram terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian passenger plane that crashed in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula on Saturday, killing all 224 people on board.

The militant group affiliated to Islamic State, to which Nigeria’s Boko Haram also owes allegiance, claimed responsibility in a statement circulated by supporters on Twitter, a Reuters report said.

The claim of responsibility was also carried by the Aamaq website which acts as a semi official news agency for Islamic State.

“The fighters of the Islamic State were able to down a Russian plane over Sinai province that was carrying over 220 Russian crusaders. They were all killed, thanks be to God,” the statement circulated on Twitter said.

Egyptian security sources earlier on Saturday said early investigations suggested the plane crashed due to a technical fault. The wife of the co-pilot in Russia made a similar claim, disclosing that her husband complained about the state of the plane before the tragic flight.

•Photo shows ISIS fighters.