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Flight from Malaysia to Beijing loses contact, 153 Chinese aboard

A Malaysian passenger plane carrying 239 people, including 227 passengers and 12 crew members, has lost contact with air traffic control after leaving Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur, the carrier said Saturday.

Malaysia Airlines said flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200, lost touch with Subang Air Traffic Control around 02:40 am local time Saturday morning (1840 GMT Friday). The passengers were of 13 different nationalities, it added.

An official from the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia told Xinhua there were 153 Chinese nationals aboard, including one infant.

The aircraft left Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 00:41 am (1641 GMT Friday) and was expected to land in Beijing at 06:30 am (2230 GMT Friday).

"We deeply regret that we have lost all contacts with flight MH370 which departed Kuala Lumpur at 12:41 am earlier this morning bound for Beijing," said Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, Malaysia Arlines group chief executive officer.

"The flight was carrying 227 passengers (including two infants), 12 crew members," the airline said in a statement posted on its website.

"Malaysia Airlines is currently working with the authorities who have activated their search and rescue team to locate the aircraft," the airline said.

"Our team is currently calling the next-of-kin of passengers and crew. Focus of the airline is to work with the emergency responders and authorities and mobilize its full support."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members. The airline will provide regular updates on the situation," it said in a second statement.

The flight lost radar contact in airspace controlled by Vietnam in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Chinese Embassy in Malaysia has formed an emergency team headed by the Chinese Ambassador to deal with the incident.


 

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