Isis militants are claiming responsibility for the crash of a Russian airliner early Saturday that killed at least 224 people, among them 17 children.

The New York Daily News reports there were no survivors from the crash, which occurred in a remote and mountainous region of Egypt known as the Sinai Peninsula about 20 minutes after the airliner took to the air.

Although Isis was quick to take responsibility for masterminding the deadly mayhem, Egyptian officials noted early indications are the plane was hampered by technical issues. Rescuers were forced to hike nearly three miles over rugged and unforgiving terrain to reach the wreckage and search for survivals.

"I now see a tragic scene," a security officer at the scene told reporters. "A lot of dead on the ground and many who died while strapped to their seats. The plane split into two, a small part on the tail end that burned and a larger part that crashed into a rock."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has since ordered Russian officials to converge on the crash site and has officially declared Nov. 1 a day of mourning in the area. Of the passengers aboard the aircraft, 138 were women, 62 men and 17 children.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims of the Russian plane crash in Egypt and the Bucharest nightclub fire," tweeted British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Around that same time, an ISIS-affiliated group located in Sinai issued a statement claiming responsibility for downing the aircraft.

"The fighters of the Islamic State were able to down a Russian plane over Sinai province that was carrying over 220 Russian crusaders," ISIS members boasted in a statement. "They were all killed, thanks be to God."

ISIS members added the attack was carried out in response to Russia's increased military presence in Syria.