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EgyptAir flight MS804 disappears from radar between Paris and Cairo – live updates EgyptAir flight MS804 disappears from radar between Paris and Cairo – live updates
(35 minutes later)
8.50am BST
08:50
The fact that three of the 10 crew on the flight were security officers is “the usual practice”, Alain Vidalies, the French transport minister, has said.
EgyptAir said there were three security personnel on board, alongside two cockpit crew and five cabin crew.
8.44am BST
08:44
Lara El Gibaly reports from Cairo international airport:
Outside the terminal, doctors, and nurses, as well as military personnel, have been seen going into the hall where relatives of the passengers of the missing plane are being kept.
The Egyptian aviation ministry has announced a press conference due to take place at 1.30pm local time (11.30am GMT).
8.39am BST
08:39
Confusingly, a statement posted on the official Facebook page of the Egyptian army says the army did not receive a distress signal from the plane.
It is not clear whether this contradicts the EgyptAir report that a signal was received from the plane’s emergency devices – presumed to be a locator transmitter or beacon – at 04.26 local time (02.26 GMT), two hours after the last radar contact. It could refer to the previous statement by EgyptAir that no distress call was received from the cockpit.
In the army statement, the spokesman of the Egyptian army, Brigadier General Mohammed Samir, said the army had not received any distress call from the missing plane.
8.35am BST
08:35
A statement from Egypt’s civil aviation ministry says it is too early to conclude that the missing plane has crashed.
It is now seven hours since flight MS804 disappeared from the radar.
8.28am BST
08:28
EgyptAir has protested at what it calls “misinformation” about potential causes and outcomes of the disappearance and asked media to wait for official updates.
(We are avoiding speculation in this live blog.)
The European Aviation Safety Agency is also treading carefully:
Aware of the media reports concerning Egyptair flight #MS804. No further Information at this stage. Following the developments very closely.
8.23am BST
08:23
French prime minister Manuel Valls says France has offered to send planes and boats to help the search for missing EgyptAir flight.
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 mobilising and ready to send our military means, planes and boats, to search for this plane.
French transport minister Alain Vidalies confirmed the report from EgyptAir that there was no cargo on board the Airbus A320.
8.18am BST8.18am BST
08:1808:18
Here’s a rundown of what we do and don’t know so far about the missing flight:Here’s a rundown of what we do and don’t know so far about the missing flight:
Related: Q&A: key questions about missing EgyptAir flight MS 804Related: Q&A: key questions about missing EgyptAir flight MS 804
8.12am BST8.12am BST
08:1208:12
The French foreign office has set up an emergency phone line for people worried about relatives and friends on flight MS804:The French foreign office has set up an emergency phone line for people worried about relatives and friends on flight MS804:
francediplo: Disparition du vol #EgyptAir - Le ministère des Affaires étrangères a ouvert une cellule de crise : 01 43 17 55 95francediplo: Disparition du vol #EgyptAir - Le ministère des Affaires étrangères a ouvert une cellule de crise : 01 43 17 55 95
8.08am BST8.08am BST
08:0808:08
The Egyptian prime minister, Sherif Ismail, is at Cairo international airport, EgyptAir says:The Egyptian prime minister, Sherif Ismail, is at Cairo international airport, EgyptAir says:
Engineer Ismael was presented with a detailed briefing about the situation from the crisis teamEngineer Ismael was presented with a detailed briefing about the situation from the crisis team
and he has directed all the concerned authorities to take all necessary action for dealing with the crisis.and he has directed all the concerned authorities to take all necessary action for dealing with the crisis.
(Ismail is a former engineer.)(Ismail is a former engineer.)
7.55am BST7.55am BST
07:5507:55
The Egyptian navy, air force and coastguard are all involved in the search for the missing plane, reports from Cairo say.The Egyptian navy, air force and coastguard are all involved in the search for the missing plane, reports from Cairo say.
Greece has also joined the search, taking place around 280km north of the Egyptian coast in the Mediterranean, sending two aircraft and a frigate. Greece said it also had helicopters on standby in case rescue operations were necessary.Greece has also joined the search, taking place around 280km north of the Egyptian coast in the Mediterranean, sending two aircraft and a frigate. Greece said it also had helicopters on standby in case rescue operations were necessary.
7.51am BST7.51am BST
07:5107:51
There is some confusion over this new distress signal, reported to have been received at 04.26 local time (02.26 GMT).There is some confusion over this new distress signal, reported to have been received at 04.26 local time (02.26 GMT).
This is two hours after the last confirmed contact via radar, which was at 02.30 local time (00.30 GMT).This is two hours after the last confirmed contact via radar, which was at 02.30 local time (00.30 GMT).
But it is possible that the later signal, which has been described in some reports as a distress call, could have been an automated distress signal from an emergency locator beacon.But it is possible that the later signal, which has been described in some reports as a distress call, could have been an automated distress signal from an emergency locator beacon.
7.36am BST7.36am BST
07:3607:36
What we know so farWhat we know so far
Claire PhippsClaire Phipps
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.40am BSTat 7.40am BST
7.26am BST7.26am BST
07:2607:26
Emergency beacon 'detected at 4.26am'Emergency beacon 'detected at 4.26am'
EgyptAir says that the plane’s emergency devices (possibly an emergency locator transmitter or beacon) sent a distress signal that was received at 4.26am, some two hours after the previously stated last radar contact.EgyptAir says that the plane’s emergency devices (possibly an emergency locator transmitter or beacon) sent a distress signal that was received at 4.26am, some two hours after the previously stated last radar contact.
الساعة 04:26 محلي بتوقيت القاهرة فجر اليوم وجاري البحث.الساعة 04:26 محلي بتوقيت القاهرة فجر اليوم وجاري البحث.
7.23am BST7.23am BST
07:2307:23
Matthew WeaverMatthew Weaver
The UK foreign office in London could not confirm reports that a British national was on board the missing the Airbus.The UK foreign office in London could not confirm reports that a British national was on board the missing the Airbus.
A spokeswoman gave this statement:A spokeswoman gave this statement:
Following reports that EgyptAir flight MS804 has gone missing en route from Paris to Cairo, we are in urgent contact with the local authorities in Paris and Cairo to obtain further information.Following reports that EgyptAir flight MS804 has gone missing en route from Paris to Cairo, we are in urgent contact with the local authorities in Paris and Cairo to obtain further information.
7.16am BST7.16am BST
07:1607:16
French prime minister Manuel Valls says “no theory can be ruled out” in investigating the disappearance of MS804, which left Paris Charles de Gaulle airport late on Wednesday night.French prime minister Manuel Valls says “no theory can be ruled out” in investigating the disappearance of MS804, which left Paris Charles de Gaulle airport late on Wednesday night.
Speaking to RTL radio on Thursday morning, Valls said:Speaking to RTL radio on Thursday morning, Valls said:
We are in close contact with the Egyptian authorities, both civil and military.We are in close contact with the Egyptian authorities, both civil and military.
The Egyptian authorities have already sent air reconnaissance teams to the site, and France is ready to help with the search if the Egyptian authorities ask, of course.The Egyptian authorities have already sent air reconnaissance teams to the site, and France is ready to help with the search if the Egyptian authorities ask, of course.
At this stage, no theory can be ruled out regarding the causes of the disappearance.At this stage, no theory can be ruled out regarding the causes of the disappearance.
EgyptAir has said 15 of the 56 passengers on board the missing plane are French.EgyptAir has said 15 of the 56 passengers on board the missing plane are French.
7.02am BST7.02am BST
07:0207:02
The French government will hold an emergency meeting in around half an hour to discuss the plane’s disappearance, the French president’s office has said.The French government will hold an emergency meeting in around half an hour to discuss the plane’s disappearance, the French president’s office has said.
President François Hollande has already spoken to his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Hollande’s office said, and the two countries would be cooperating to establish the circumstances of the plane’s disappearance.President François Hollande has already spoken to his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Hollande’s office said, and the two countries would be cooperating to establish the circumstances of the plane’s disappearance.
6.57am BST6.57am BST
06:5706:57
Reports from Egypt suggest search and rescue efforts are focusing on the Mediterranean; Greece is also assisting in the search.Reports from Egypt suggest search and rescue efforts are focusing on the Mediterranean; Greece is also assisting in the search.
Flightradar24 pinpoints the last recorded point of contact with the plane, which was travelling at just under 37,000 feet:Flightradar24 pinpoints the last recorded point of contact with the plane, which was travelling at just under 37,000 feet:
Our last recorded point of contact with #MS804 is 33.6757, 28.7924 at 36,975 feet.https://t.co/6tH4GQzOWU pic.twitter.com/y14vnYgOthOur last recorded point of contact with #MS804 is 33.6757, 28.7924 at 36,975 feet.https://t.co/6tH4GQzOWU pic.twitter.com/y14vnYgOth
6.52am BST6.52am BST
06:5206:52
Contact lost 280km from Egyptian coastContact lost 280km from Egyptian coast
Updated information from EgyptAir says:Updated information from EgyptAir says:
EgyptAir A320 aircraft flight number MS804 lost contact with radar above the Mediterranean sea about 280km (175 miles) from the Egyptian seacoast at 2.30am [local time] as the flight was expected to arrive Cairo airport at 3.15am.EgyptAir A320 aircraft flight number MS804 lost contact with radar above the Mediterranean sea about 280km (175 miles) from the Egyptian seacoast at 2.30am [local time] as the flight was expected to arrive Cairo airport at 3.15am.
This is quite different to earlier reports from the airline that the last-known contact was around 50km north of the Egyptian coastline.This is quite different to earlier reports from the airline that the last-known contact was around 50km north of the Egyptian coastline.
6.48am BST6.48am BST
06:4806:48
EGYPTAIR has hosted the passengers' families near to Cairo Airport and has provided doctors, translators and all the necessary services.EGYPTAIR has hosted the passengers' families near to Cairo Airport and has provided doctors, translators and all the necessary services.