(Reuters) — China is very worried over a Beijing-bound passenger plane that has lost contact with air traffic control, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday (March 8).
A Malaysia Airlines flight carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew lost contact with air traffic controllers early on Saturday en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, the airline said in a statement.
China’s state television CCTV said 160 Chinese nationals were onboard the flight.
China has launched an emergency mechanism after Malaysian flight carrying 160 Chinese lost contact, said the Chinese Foreign Minister.
Wang made the remark during a press conference on China’s foreign diplomatic work hosted by the 2nd session of China’s 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing on Saturday.
“Early this morning, we received some very disturbing news. A Malaysian Civil Aviation flight bound for China lost contact with ground control. This has got us all very worried. I hope every one of the passengers is safe. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and relevant embassies and consulates of China have activated an emergency mechanism. We are doing all we can to get more details. Once we have any information, we’ll let you know immediately,” said Wang.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese embassies in Malaysia and Vietnam have launched an emergency mechanism.
A flight from Malaysia to Beijing has lost contact, China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) confirmed Saturday.
The B777-200 aircraft departed Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur at 00:41 Saturday, and was expected to land in Beijing at 06:30 the same day, according to Malaysia Airlines.
The CAAC confirmed the flight number was MH370, which carries 239 people, including 12 crew members and 160 Chinese passengers. So far, the flight hasn’t contacted Chinese air traffic management department or entered China’s air traffic control area.
The flight lost contact and its radar signal at 01:20 Saturday when flying over the Ho Chi Minhair traffic control area in Vietnam.
The Malaysia Airlines said on its website that the company is trying to locate the flight with emergency rescue teams.