Malaysian flight with 239 people aboard loses contact

Officials of Malaysia Airlines speak to the media in Kuala Lumper, Malaysia, March 8, 2014. A Malaysian passenger plane carrying 239 people, including 227 passengers and 12 crew members, has lost contact witAh air traffic control after leaving Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur, the carrier said Saturday. (Xinhua)

A Malaysian passenger plane carrying 239 people, including 227 passengers and 12 crew members, has lost contact with air traffic control after leaving Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur, the carrier said Saturday.  [Latest update: No signs of crash for Malaysian flight found]

Malaysia Airlines said flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200, lost touch with Subang Air Traffic Control around 02:40 am local time Saturday morning (1840 GMT Friday).

Chinese aviation authorities have confirmed that there were 154 Chinese citizens aboard the plane, including one infant and one from Taiwan.

The aircraft left Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 00:41 am (1641 GMT Friday) and was expected to land in Beijing at 06:30 am (2230 GMT Friday).

"The flight was carrying 227 passengers (including two infants), 12 crew members," the airline said in a statement posted on its website.

"Malaysia Airlines is currently working with the authorities who have activated their search and rescue team to locate the aircraft," the airline said.

The flight MH370 with 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board lost radar contact in airspace controlled by Vietnam in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Chinese Embassy in Malaysia has formed an emergency team headed by the Chinese Ambassador to deal with the incident.

How to reach Malaysia Airlines

Beijing: 010-65052681

Shanghai: 021-23293999

Guangzhou: 020-83358868

Xiamen: 0592-2106088

Kunming: 0871-67085770

Contact number for most update situation

Malaysia Airlines: 006037884-1234;

Media contact number: 006038777-5777;

Chinese Embassy in Malaysia ：0065322531;

Embassy of Malaysia in China ：01065322531,32,33.

(Updated)

Tears and prayers for loved ones

For relatives and friends of the passengers on board the still missing Malaysian flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, the wait has been long and the shock very hard to absorb.