A Kenya Airways plane with 115 people on board has crashed in southern Cameroon, near the town of Niete, Cameroon state radio reports.
A Kenya Airways plane with 115 people on board has crashed in southern Cameroon, state radio reports.
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.
There is no confirmation of the crash from Kenya and no reports on the fate of the passengers.
Kenya Airways has not confirmed the crash. It said people from at least 23 different nationalities were on board, including five Britons.
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 may be part of a new fleet bought recently by the airline, raising questions whether other aircraft will be taken out of service.
The BBC's Karen Allen in Nairobi says the Boeing 737-800 may be part of a new fleet bought recently by the airline, raising questions whether other aircraft will be taken out of service.
Bad weather
Bad weather
Kenya Airways says the last communication with the missing plane was received by the control tower in Douala, Cameroon, soon after take-off.
Flight KQ 507 originated in Abidjan in Ivory Coast and left Douala in Cameroon at 2305 local time (0005 GMT) on Friday. It was due to arrive in Nairobi at 0615 (0315 GMT), but came down near the town of Niete, Cameroon state radio said.
Stormy weather was reported along its intended route. Earlier, a separate report said a distress signal had been detected.
Kenya Airways only said the last communication with the missing plane was received by the control tower in Douala, Cameroon, shortly after take-off.
The airline says there were 106 passengers and nine crew on board the Boeing 737-800 plane.
A lot of people are crying, people are asking what is happening Worried relative
It is not clear what the nationalities of the passengers are but it is thought many were connecting through Nairobi to other destinations.
The company's chief executive, Titus Naikuni, said a distress signal was detected in the west coast of Africa and a Cameroon search and rescue team dispatched at about 0900 GMT.
Poor weather is reported to be hampering the rescue effort.
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.
"We have been told to sit and wait," one relative of a passenger on the plane told AFP news agency.
"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.
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Are you in the area? Have you noticed anything unusual with the Kenya Airways flight? Use the form below to send us details.
