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EgyptAir flight MS804 from Paris to Cairo disappears from radar EgyptAir flight MS804 from Paris to Cairo disappears from radar
(about 1 hour later)
An EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo has disappeared from radar with 66 people on board, the airline says. An EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo is feared to have crashed into the Mediterranean Sea after disappearing from radar overnight.
The Airbus A320 went missing over the eastern Mediterranean, soon after entering Egyptian airspace. The Airbus A320 went missing at 02:30 Cairo time (00:30 GMT), soon after leaving Greek airspace.
The Egyptian military has denied a report from EgyptAir that a distress signal was sent by the plane. There were 56 passengers - including three children - seven crew members and three security personnel on board Flight MS804, EgyptAir said.
There were 56 passengers - including three children - seven crew members and three security personnel on board Flight MS804, the airline said. Airbus confirmed "the loss" of the 13-year-old plane.
A major search and rescue operation is under way involving the Greek and Egyptian armed forces. France has offered to send boats and planes to help in the effort.
Live updatesLive updates
What we knowWhat we know
The airline said the passengers included 30 Egyptians, 15 French citizens, one Briton, two Iraqis, as well as people from Canada, Belgium, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Sudan, Chad and Portugal. Both French and Egyptian officials have refused to be drawn on what has happened to the plane.
Although there is no evidence yet to indicate a malicious attack, the spectre of terrorism inevitably looms over this latest aviation tragedy, says the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner.
It was only seven months ago that a Russian passenger jet was brought down over the Sinai by the so-called Islamic State, which has vowed to target Egypt and the westerners who visit it, he notes.
Flight MS804 left Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport at 23:09 local time on Wednesday (21:09 GMT) and was scheduled to arrive in the Egyptian capital soon after 03:15 local time on Thursday.Flight MS804 left Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport at 23:09 local time on Wednesday (21:09 GMT) and was scheduled to arrive in the Egyptian capital soon after 03:15 local time on Thursday.
It was flying at 37,000ft (11,300m) over the eastern Mediterranean when contact was lost, at 02:30 Cairo time (00:30 GMT). EgyptAir said the plane had been flying at 37,000ft (11,300m) when it disappeared from radar shortly after entering Egyptian airspace.
In what is thought to have been the last known contact with the plane, Greek air traffic controllers spoke to the pilot over the island of Kea, just south-east of Athens, and he "did not mention any problems", Kostas Litzerakis of Greece's civil aviation department told Reuters news agency. Greek aviation officials said its air traffic controllers had spoken to the pilot a few minutes earlier and everything had appeared normal.
A Greek aviation official told the AFP news agency that the plane crashed "around 130 nautical miles" off the southern Greek island of Karpathos, although this has not been confirmed. One official told the AFP news agency that the plane crashed "around 130 nautical miles" off the southern Greek island of Karpathos, although this has not been confirmed.
Both the Greek and Egyptian armed forces are involved in the search for the plane. France says it is sending boats and planes to help in the operation.
There was some confusion over whether a distress signal was sent by the plane.There was some confusion over whether a distress signal was sent by the plane.
Egypt's state-run newspaper al-Ahram quoted an EgyptAir statement as saying the Egyptian army's rescue and search had received a distress call from the plane at 04:26 local time - which would be around two hours after the flight disappeared.Egypt's state-run newspaper al-Ahram quoted an EgyptAir statement as saying the Egyptian army's rescue and search had received a distress call from the plane at 04:26 local time - which would be around two hours after the flight disappeared.
But the Egypt's military subsequently said that no such signal was received.But the Egypt's military subsequently said that no such signal was received.
Airbus, in a statement on its Facebook page, confirmed "the loss" of the 13-year-old plane, saying "our concerns go to all those affected".
Spotlight falls on French security: Analysis by Hugh Schofield in ParisSpotlight falls on French security: Analysis by Hugh Schofield in Paris
If this turns out to be a terrorist attack, then eyes will turn first of all to Charles de Gaulle airport, from where Flight MS804 took off on Wednesday night. Could there have been a breach of security allowing a device to be smuggled on board?If this turns out to be a terrorist attack, then eyes will turn first of all to Charles de Gaulle airport, from where Flight MS804 took off on Wednesday night. Could there have been a breach of security allowing a device to be smuggled on board?
Security at Charles de Gaulle, which was already tight, has been tightened even further since the Paris attacks in January 2015 and last November. There is the visible security, with soldiers on patrol, but more important is what is not seen - the monitoring of passengers and staff.Security at Charles de Gaulle, which was already tight, has been tightened even further since the Paris attacks in January 2015 and last November. There is the visible security, with soldiers on patrol, but more important is what is not seen - the monitoring of passengers and staff.
One weak point identified in recent years has been the large number of flight-side workers who come from high-immigrant areas of the Paris suburbs. Last year there was a security review of the 86,000 workers with authorisation to go flight-side. More than 60 had their authorisation withdrawn because of fears of Islamic radicalisation.One weak point identified in recent years has been the large number of flight-side workers who come from high-immigrant areas of the Paris suburbs. Last year there was a security review of the 86,000 workers with authorisation to go flight-side. More than 60 had their authorisation withdrawn because of fears of Islamic radicalisation.
Of course, the investigation will also look at another possibility - that the device, if there was one, was smuggled on elsewhere.Of course, the investigation will also look at another possibility - that the device, if there was one, was smuggled on elsewhere.
Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail arrived at Cairo airport, along with families of those on board the flight. He refused to speculate on what had happened, saying "we cannot rule anything out".
His words were echoed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault who was at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport where a crisis centre has been opened for relatives.
He described it as a "moment of intense emotion" for the relatives, who are "without any news".
The presidents of Egypt and France have spoken and are each holding emergency meetings with their top officials, according to reports from both countries.
Flightradar24 listed details of the plane's journey on Wednesday which showed it had flown from Asmara, in Eritrea, to Cairo, then on to Tunis, in Tunisia, before heading, via Cairo, to Paris.Flightradar24 listed details of the plane's journey on Wednesday which showed it had flown from Asmara, in Eritrea, to Cairo, then on to Tunis, in Tunisia, before heading, via Cairo, to Paris.
Families of those on board the flight have gathered at both Cairo airport and Paris' Charles de Gaulle to await news.
Aviation analyst Alex Macheras told the BBC that Airbus A320s were regularly used for short-haul budget flights and had "an amazing safety record".Aviation analyst Alex Macheras told the BBC that Airbus A320s were regularly used for short-haul budget flights and had "an amazing safety record".
In March, an EgyptAir plane was hijacked and diverted to Cyprus. The attacker later surrendered and all hostages were released.In March, an EgyptAir plane was hijacked and diverted to Cyprus. The attacker later surrendered and all hostages were released.
Last October, a Russian passenger plane flying from Sharm el-Sheikh crashed over the Sinai peninsula killing all 224 people on board. Officials in Moscow and Egypt later said the aircraft was brought down by an explosive device.Last October, a Russian passenger plane flying from Sharm el-Sheikh crashed over the Sinai peninsula killing all 224 people on board. Officials in Moscow and Egypt later said the aircraft was brought down by an explosive device.
Islamic State militants said they had bombed the plane.Islamic State militants said they had bombed the plane.
If anyone is concerned about relatives or friends following the disappearance of the flight, they can call this free number provided by EgyptAir: +202 259 89320.If anyone is concerned about relatives or friends following the disappearance of the flight, they can call this free number provided by EgyptAir: +202 259 89320.
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukHave you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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