Malaysia Airlines has “lost contact” with a Beijing-bound plane carrying 239 people.
In a statement, the airline said the B77-200 aircraft departed Kuala Lumpur just after midnight (local time) on March 8.
The plane was expected to land in Beijing more than six hours later.
The airline said authorities have activated their search-and-rescue team in an effort to locate the plane.
The airline said 227 passengers and 12 crew members are onboard.
Developing story...
From Facebook:
MEDIA STATEMENT released at 7.24am/8 Mar 2014 MH370 Incident
Sepang, 8 March 2014: 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.