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EgyptAir flight MS804 disappears from radar between Paris and Cairo – live updates EgyptAir flight MS804 goes missing between Paris and Cairo – live updates
(35 minutes later)
9.24am BST
09:24
Airbus has issued a statement confirming that MS804 was lost over the Mediterrean at 2.30am local time. It has not confirmed a report that the plane crashed.
Here’s the statement:
Airbus regrets to confirm that an A320 operated by Egyptair was lost at around 02:30 am (Egypt local time) today over the Mediterranean sea. The aircraft was operating a scheduled service, Flight MS 804 from Paris, France to Cairo, Egypt.
The aircraft involved, registered under SU-GCC was MSN (Manufacturer Serial Number) 2088 delivered to Egyptair from the production line in November 2003. The aircraft had accumulated approximately 48,000 flight hours. It was powered by IAE engines. At this time no further factual information is available.
In line with ICAO annex 13, Airbus stands-by ready to provide full technical assistance to French Investigation Agency - BEA - and to the Authorities in charge of the investigation.
The first A320 entered service in March 1988. At the end of April 2016 over6700 A320 Family aircraft were in operation worldwide. To date, the entire fleet has accumulated nearly 180 million flight hours in over 98 million flights.
Our concerns go to all those affected.
Airbus will make further factual information available as soon as the details have been confirmed and cleared by the authorities for release.
Updated
at 9.25am BST
9.21am BST
09:21
Egypt’s minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy is due to hold press conference, but not for almost three hours.
Daily News Egypt says the press conference by Sherif Fathy is due to take place at 1pm local time (12pm BST).
Update: Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy to hold press conference at 1 pm on #EgyptAirMS804 missing craft
9.13am BST
09:13
Plane 'crashed' off Greek islands
Matthew Weaver
There is an unconfirmed report that the plane crashed in the Mediterranean 130 miles from the Greek island of Karpathos. AFP’s Jean-Marc Mojon cites a Greek aviation source for the report.
#EgyptAir plane crashed 130 nautical miles off #Greek island of Karpathos in Egyptian airspace at 0029 GMT: Greek civil aviation source @AFP
“At around 0029 GMT (3:29 am) when it was in Egyptian airspace, the plane disappeared from Greek radars... it crashed around 130 nautical miles off the island of Karpathos,” the source told AFP.
The official said the last communication with the pilot was three minutes before the plane disappeared, and that there had been no distress call.
The Greek defence ministry said it had dispatched two search planes and a frigate to the area.
EgyptAir continues to appeal to the media to “abide” by official press releases on the missing plane.
and to abide by the official press releases issued by EGYPTAIR media center.
The boat tracking website, MarineTraffic, has put together a video of at least five ships that appear to be joining the sea search for the missing Airbus around its last known location in the Mediterranean.
9.01am BST
09:01
What we know so far
Claire Phipps
Here is the latest summary as news continues to unfold around the disappearance of flight MS804:
I’m now handing over this live blog to my colleague Matthew Weaver in London. Thanks for reading.
8.50am BST8.50am BST
08:5008:50
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.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.EgyptAir said there were three security personnel on board, alongside two cockpit crew and five cabin crew.
8.44am BST8.44am BST
08:4408:44
Lara El Gibaly reports from Cairo international airport: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.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).The Egyptian aviation ministry has announced a press conference due to take place at 1.30pm local time (11.30am GMT).
8.39am BST8.39am BST
08:3908:39
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.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.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.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 BST8.35am BST
08:3508:35
A statement from Egypt’s civil aviation ministry says it is too early to conclude that the missing plane has crashed.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.It is now seven hours since flight MS804 disappeared from the radar.
8.28am BST8.28am BST
08:2808:28
EgyptAir has protested at what it calls “misinformation” about potential causes and outcomes of the disappearance and asked media to wait for official updates.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.)(We are avoiding speculation in this live blog.)
The European Aviation Safety Agency is also treading carefully: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.Aware of the media reports concerning Egyptair flight #MS804. No further Information at this stage. Following the developments very closely.
8.23am BST8.23am BST
08:2308:23
French prime minister Manuel Valls says France has offered to send planes and boats to help the search for missing EgyptAir flight.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: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.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.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.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 BST
07:55
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.
7.51am BST
07:51
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).
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 BST
07:36
What we know so far
Claire Phipps
Updated
at 7.40am BST
7.26am BST
07:26
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.
الساعة 04:26 محلي بتوقيت القاهرة فجر اليوم وجاري البحث.
7.23am BST
07:23
Matthew Weaver
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:
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 BST
07:16
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.
Speaking to RTL radio on Thursday morning, Valls said:
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.
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.
7.02am BST
07:02
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.
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 BST
06:57
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:
Our 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 BST
06:52
Contact lost 280km from Egyptian coast
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.
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 BST
06:48
EGYPTAIR has hosted the passengers' families near to Cairo Airport and has provided doctors, translators and all the necessary services.