A Kenya Airways plane with 114 people on board has reportedly crashed in southern Cameroon.
A Kenya Airways plane with 114 people on board has reportedly crashed in southern Cameroon.
The flight, which originated in Ivory Coast, was reported missing on Saturday after it failed to arrive in Nairobi.
The flight, which originated in Ivory Coast, was reported missing on Saturday after it failed to arrive in Nairobi.
Cameroon state radio said the plane came down south of Douala, although Kenya Airways has only confirmed so far that it is missing.
Cameroon state radio said the plane came down south of Douala, although Kenya Airways has only confirmed so far that it is missing.
People from at least 23 different nationalities were on board, including five Britons, the airline said.
People from at least 23 different nationalities were on board, including five Britons, the airline said.
Kenya's national carrier has a good safety record. However, 169 people died when one of its planes crashed in 2000.
Kenya's national carrier has a good safety record. However, 169 people died when one of its planes crashed in 2000.
The BBC's Karen Allen in Nairobi says the Boeing 737-800 involved in Saturday's incident was just six months old and was part of a new fleet bought by the airline.
The BBC's Karen Allen in Nairobi says the Boeing 737-800 involved in Saturday's incident was just six months old and was part of a new fleet bought by the airline.
Our correspondent says it will raise questions of whether other aircraft will be taken out of service.
Our correspondent says it will raise questions of whether other aircraft will be taken out of service.
Bad weather
Bad weather
Flight KQ 507 originated in Abidjan in Ivory Coast and left Douala in Cameroon at 0005 local time (0105 GMT) on Saturday. It was due to arrive in Nairobi at 0615 (0315 GMT).
Flight KQ 507 originated in Abidjan in Ivory Coast and left Douala in Cameroon at 0005 local time (0105 GMT) on Saturday. It was due to arrive in Nairobi at 0615 (0315 GMT).
Kenya Airways said the last communication with the missing plane was received by the control tower in Douala, on Cameroon's coast, shortly after take-off.
Kenya Airways said the last communication with the missing plane was received by the control tower in Douala, on Cameroon's coast, shortly after take-off.
Cameroon radio initially said the plane came down near Niete, south along the coast from Douala, although later reports suggested the crash had happened further inland.
Cameroon radio initially said the plane came down near Niete, south along the coast from Douala, although later reports suggested the crash had happened further inland.
"The search location has now been centred around 100kms (62 miles) south-west of [Cameroon's capital] Yaounde," Kenyan Airways chief executive Titus Naikuni told a news conference.
"The search location has now been centred around 100kms (62 miles) south-west of [Cameroon's capital] Yaounde," Kenyan Airways chief executive Titus Naikuni told a news conference.
He said an extensive search of the area by low-flying aircraft had found nothing, and a second search team was on its way to the site.
He said an extensive search of the area by low-flying aircraft had found nothing, and a second search team was on its way to the site.
Mr Naikuni said the search and rescue operation was proving to be difficult because it was taking place in the heavy-wooded terrain.
Mr Naikuni said the search and rescue operation was proving to be difficult because it was taking place in the heavy-wooded terrain.
Kenyan Transport Minister Chirau Ali Makwere - who is leading a team of Kenya Airways and government officials to Douala - said it was too early to determine what had happened to the plane.
Kenyan Transport Minister Chirau Ali Makwere - who is leading a team of Kenya Airways and government officials to Douala - said it was too early to determine what had happened to the plane.
"We need to get information from the technical experts as to whether it was occasioned by the weather or pilot error or mechanical fault," he was quoted by the Associated Press as saying.
"We need to get information from the technical experts as to whether it was occasioned by the weather or pilot error or mechanical fault," he was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. NATIONALITIES OF MISSING 35 Cameroon15 India9 Kenya (crew)7 South Africa6 China6 Ivory Coast6 Nigeria5 Britain3 Niger2 Central African Republic2 Democratic Republic of Congo2 Equatorial Guinea1 Ghana; Sweden; Togo; Mali; Switzerland; Comoros; Egypt; Mauritius; Senegal; Congo; Tanzania; US; Burkina Faso 3 unidentifiedSource: Kenya Airways
NATIONALITIES OF MISSING 35 Cameroon15 India9 Kenya (crew)7 South Africa6 China6 Ivory Coast6 Nigeria5 Britain3 Niger2 Central African Republic2 Democratic Republic of Congo2 Equatorial Guinea1 Ghana; Sweden; Togo; Mali; Switzerland; Comoros; Egypt; Mauritius; Senegal; Congo; Tanzania; US; Burkina Faso 3 unidentifiedSource: Kenya Airways
A crisis management centre has been set up in Nairobi.
A crisis management centre has been set up in Nairobi. A number of worried friends and relatives have been gathering at the capital's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Five Britons were reportedly among the passengers, including Anthony Mitchell, a respected and well-known Associated Press journalist based in Nairobi.
There has been no confirmation from the Foreign Office.
A number of worried friends and relatives have been gathering at the capital's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
"We have been told to sit and wait," one relative of a missing passenger told AFP news agency.
"We have been told to sit and wait," one relative of a missing passenger told AFP news agency.
"A lot of people are crying, people are asking what is happening."
"A lot of people are crying, people are asking what is happening."
The Kenya Airways website says the fleet is 23 strong. It is 26%-owned by Air France KLM's Dutch company KLM.
The Kenya Airways website says the fleet is 23 strong. It is 26%-owned by Air France KLM's Dutch company KLM.
In January 2000 a Kenya Airways plane crashed into the sea after taking off from Abidjan airport in Ivory Coast killing 169 people. There were 10 survivors.
In January 2000 a Kenya Airways plane crashed into the sea after taking off from Abidjan airport in Ivory Coast killing 169 people. There were 10 survivors.
Are you in the area? Have you noticed anything unusual with the Kenya Airways flight? Use the form below to send us details.
Are you in the area? Have you noticed anything unusual with the Kenya Airways flight? Use the form below to send us details.
