An EgyptAir flight from Paris bound for Cairo is feared to have crashed into the Mediterranean Sea after disappearing from radar.
The Flight MS804 went missing at 02:30 Cairo time soon after clearing Greek airspace.
EgyptAir confirmed there were 56 passengers – including three children – seven crew members and three security personnel on board the Airbus A320 when it addressed “the loss” of the 13-year-old plane.
A major search and rescue operation is under way involving the Greek and Egyptian military. France has offered to send boats and planes to help in the effort while their security officials say they “cannot rule out the possibility of a terror attack.”
There were 15 French nationals on board the flight and French President Francois Hollande convened an emergency meeting about the incident.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls told a press conference that his government was being “extremely prudent” about possible causes and trying to gather all the information.
“We are not ruling out any hypothesis,” he said.
“The plane was travelling at a height of 37,000ft, and disappeared after entering the Egyptian airspace within 10 miles,” says EgyptAir.
Recent regional tensions and incidents have caused many to speculate foul play is a factor.
In November 2015 a Russian Metrojet Airbus A321 crashed in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheik just minutes after departing Egpyt for St Petersburg, killing all 224 passengers.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack.
