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EgyptAir flight 804 disappears en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 on board EgyptAir flight 804 disappears en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 on board
(35 minutes later)
An EgyptAir Airbus A320 carrying 56 passengers and 10 crew members went off the radar after departing from Paris and heading to Cairo, the airline said in a brief statement.An EgyptAir Airbus A320 carrying 56 passengers and 10 crew members went off the radar after departing from Paris and heading to Cairo, the airline said in a brief statement.
LIVE UPDATES: Search for EgyptAir flight missing over MediterraneanLIVE UPDATES: Search for EgyptAir flight missing over Mediterranean
“An informed source at EGYPTAIR stated that Flight No. MS804, which departed Paris at 23:09 (CEST), heading to Cairo has disappeared from radar,” the airline said on its Twitter.“An informed source at EGYPTAIR stated that Flight No. MS804, which departed Paris at 23:09 (CEST), heading to Cairo has disappeared from radar,” the airline said on its Twitter.
Flight MS804 left Charles de Gaulle Airport at 11:09 pm on Wednesday Paris time and was expected to arrive in Cairo by 3 am on Thursday. A direct flight usually takes just over four hours. Flight MS804 left Charles de Gaulle Airport at 11:09pm local time (21:09 GMT) on Wednesday Paris time and was expected to arrive in Cairo by 3am on Thursday. A direct flight usually takes just over four hours.
According to the latest update from EgyptAir, Flight MS804 lost contact with radar above the Mediterranean about 280 kilometers (175 miles) from the Egyptian seacoast at 2:30 a.m. Cairo time, when the Airbus A320 was at an altitude of 37,000 feet (11,300 meters). The flight was expected to land at Cairo airport at 3:15 a.m. The airport Flight MS804 departed from, Charles de Gaulle, has seen hundreds of flights to, from and over Paris canceled due to a massive strike by air traffic controllers and ground staff. They are taking part in a nationwide strike to protest the new labor reform proposed by the French government that takes away workers’ rights.
According to the latest update from EgyptAir, Flight MS804 lost contact with radar above the Mediterranean about 280km (175 miles) from the Egyptian seacoast at 2:30am Cairo time (00:30 GMT), when the Airbus A320 was at an altitude of 37,000 feet (11,300 meters). The flight was expected to land at Cairo airport at 3:15am.
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This information is at variance with previous reports from the airline, which stated that the last-known radio contact with the plane was from about 50km north of the Egyptian coastline.This information is at variance with previous reports from the airline, which stated that the last-known radio contact with the plane was from about 50km north of the Egyptian coastline.
Conflicting reports have emerged as to the number of people on board. Ahmed Abdel, Egypt Air’s vice-chairman said in an interview with CNN that there were 56 passengers, 3 security personnel, 2 cockpit crew members, and 5 cabin crew members on board – 66 people in total – contradicting previous claims. Conflicting reports have emerged as to the number of people on board. Ahmed Abdel, Egypt Air’s vice-chairman said in an interview with CNN that there were 56 passengers, three security personnel, two cockpit crew members, and five cabin staff on board – 66 people in total – contradicting previous claims.
EgyptAir has published information about the nationalities of the 56 people on board the aircraft. It lists 30 Egyptians, 15 French, two Iraqis and one person each from the UK, Belgium, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Chad, Portugal, Algeria and Canada. EgyptAir has published information about the nationalities of the 56 passengers. It lists 30 Egyptians, 15 French, two Iraqis and one each from the UK, Belgium, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Chad, Portugal, Algeria and Canada.
The Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry has said an Egyptian military unit received a distress call from the aircraft at 4:26 a.m. Cairo time (0226 GMT), according to Reuters. The Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry has said an Egyptian military unit received a distress call from the aircraft at 4:26am Cairo time, according to Reuters.
EgyptAir said in its tweet that the aircraft’s emergency device (possibly an emergency transmitter or beacon) has sent a distress signal that was received at 4:26 a.m., some two hours after the previously stated last radar contact. EgyptAir tweeted that the aircraft’s emergency device (possibly an emergency transmitter or beacon) sent a distress signal that was received at 4:26am, some two hours after the previously-stated last radar contact.
According to previous statements from EgyptAir, no distress signal was recorded from the missing Flight MS804.According to previous statements from EgyptAir, no distress signal was recorded from the missing Flight MS804.
EgyptAir confirmed that all authorities have been informed of the missing plane, which disappeared near Greece. Rescue efforts are underway.EgyptAir confirmed that all authorities have been informed of the missing plane, which disappeared near Greece. Rescue efforts are underway.
Egyptian rescue teams are reportedly working with their Greek counterparts to locate the plane. Egyptian rescue teams are reportedly working with their Greek counterparts to locate the plane. 
One C-130 and one early warning aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force have been dispatched by Greece for search and rescue efforts, AP reported, citing a Greek Defense Ministry source. There is a frigate also heading to the area and helicopters on standby on the southern island of Karpathos, the source added. One C-130 and one early-warning aircraft from the Hellenic Air Force have been dispatched by Greece for search and rescue efforts, AP reported, citing a Greek Defense Ministry source. There is a frigate also heading to the area and helicopters on standby on the southern island of Karpathos, the source added.
READ MORE: EgyptAir flight MS181 hijacker captured after 6-hour standoff in CyprusREAD MORE: EgyptAir flight MS181 hijacker captured after 6-hour standoff in Cyprus
EgyptAir described the captain of the plane as experienced, with over 6,275 flying hours, including 2,101 hours flying Airbus 320s, while his co-pilot has 2,766 hours. The aircraft was manufactured in 2003. Airbus said it was aware of the missing A320 but provided no further details on MS804.EgyptAir described the captain of the plane as experienced, with over 6,275 flying hours, including 2,101 hours flying Airbus 320s, while his co-pilot has 2,766 hours. The aircraft was manufactured in 2003. Airbus said it was aware of the missing A320 but provided no further details on MS804.
In 2013, the missing A320 reportedly experienced engine failure, SkyNews Arabia cited an Egyptian civil aviation source as saying. At that time, the aircraft was scheduled to fly from Cairo to Istanbul, but had to return for an emergency landing.In 2013, the missing A320 reportedly experienced engine failure, SkyNews Arabia cited an Egyptian civil aviation source as saying. At that time, the aircraft was scheduled to fly from Cairo to Istanbul, but had to return for an emergency landing.
In March, an EgyptAir domestic flight MS181 from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked in mid-air by one of the passengers and diverted to Larnaca, Cyprus, with 81 people on board. After a six-hour standoff, the hijacker, Seif Eldin Mustafa, released the passengers and crew, and surrendered to the Cypriot police.In March, an EgyptAir domestic flight MS181 from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked in mid-air by one of the passengers and diverted to Larnaca, Cyprus, with 81 people on board. After a six-hour standoff, the hijacker, Seif Eldin Mustafa, released the passengers and crew, and surrendered to the Cypriot police.
France has offered to full cooperate with Egypt on finding the missing MS804, including military assets. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said: “Everything must be done to find the plane, that’s why we’re in contact with the Egyptian authorities. We are mobilizing and ready to send our military means, planes and boats, to search for this plane.” France has offered to full cooperate with Egypt to find the missing MS804, including utilizing military assets.
“Everything must be done to find the plane, that’s why we’re in contact with the Egyptian authorities. We are mobilizing and ready to send our military means, planes and boats, to search for this plane,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Manuel Valls added that no scenario could be ruled out so far, as the investigation is yet to begin.Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Manuel Valls added that no scenario could be ruled out so far, as the investigation is yet to begin.
Commenting on the possible circumstances of the plane’s disappearance, an Australia-based civil aviation expert, Geoffrey Thomas, told RT: “The security situation at Charles de Gaulle [Airport in Paris] is very good. However, the one thing what the industry does fear is the inside job when you have an airport worker who might be associated with some groups. Commenting on the possible circumstances of the plane’s disappearance, an Australia-based civil aviation expert, Geoffrey Thomas, told RT: “The security situation at Charles de Gaulle [Airport in Paris] is very good. However, the one thing what the industry does fear is the 'inside job' when you have an airport worker who might be associated with some groups.
"There’s always a possibility that something is smuggled on board.”"There’s always a possibility that something is smuggled on board.”
He added that search and rescue efforts might be complicated by the need to recover “a lot of debris on the surface [which are] very difficult to spot, depending on the [state of the sea].”He added that search and rescue efforts might be complicated by the need to recover “a lot of debris on the surface [which are] very difficult to spot, depending on the [state of the sea].”
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