Plane Flight AF447 Carrying 229 People Missing

Paris air authorities said this morning a plane with 229 people aboard is missing.

The Air France passenger jet with 228 people on board  dropped off radar screens over the Atlantic after taking off from Brazil.

An official said, “The plane disappeared from the screens several hours ago. It could be a transponder problem, but this kind of fault is very rare and the plane did not land when expected. We are all very worried.”

Air traffic control lost contact with flight AF447, an A330-200, at 0600 GMT after it took off from Rio de Janeiro bound for Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, where it had been due to land at 11:10 am (0910 GMT).

The Brazilian Air Force has begun a search and rescue operation.

A crisis cell at has been set up at Charles de Gaulle according to authorities. Air France said the missing plane flight AF447 was carrying 216 passengers and 12 crew members.