A search and rescue operation is under way after Malaysia Airlines said that a plane carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew on board went missing en route to Beijing.
The company said that it lost contact with the aircraft two hours after takeoff and it was now working with authorities who had deployed search and rescue teams to locate the aircraft, which had departed from Kuala Lumpur at 12.41am on Saturday.
A statement from the airline said it was contacting the next-of-kin of passengers and crew.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members," it said.
Radar contact with the aircraft, flight MH370, was lost in airspace controlled by Vietnam in the early hours of Saturday morning, China's Xinhua news agency said. The aircraft did not enter airspace controlled by China and did not make contact with Chinese controllers, Xinhua added.
The flight had been expected to land at Beijing at 6.30am on the same day. The passengers on board included two infants, according to the airline, which also released a telephone number which members of the public could call to seek information.
The last major accident involving a Malaysia Airlines flight was in September 1995, when one of its aircraft crashed in the Malaysian city of Tawau, killing 34 people on board and injuring nine on the ground. The plane had been attempting to land at the airport when it overshot the runway and plunged into neighbouring houses.
In December 1977, a Malaysia Airlines flight was hijacked and crashed in Tanjung Kupang, killing all 100 people on board.
An earlier statement published on Facebook by the airline said: "Malaysia Airlines confirms that flight MH370 has lost contact with Subang air traffic control at 2.40am, today (8 March 2014).
"Flight MH370, operated on the B777-200 aircraft, departed Kuala Lumpur at 12.41am on 8 March 2014. MH370 was expected to land in Beijing at 6.30am the same day. The flight was carrying a total number of 227 passengers (including 2 infants), 12 crew members. Malaysia Airlines is currently working with the authorities who have activated their Search and Rescue team to locate the aircraft.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/08/malaysia-airlines-loses-contact-planeMay have some friends on board, praying things turn out okay.