Air France flight 447 from Brazil to Paris has disappeared somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. The fate of its 216 passengers and 12 crew members is unknown; their relatives have gathered in a special area of the Charles de Gaulle airport to await further news.
Spokesmen from Israel's Foreign Ministry said it was not clear whether there were any Israelis on board the flight.
A Paris Airports Authority spokeswoman told the Reuters news agency that the plane was expected in the French capital at 11:10 a.m. local time (09:10 GMT). The Airbus 330, which took off from Rio de Janeiro early Monday, disappeared about 186 miles (300 km) northeast of the coastal city of Natal.
Pilots had begun to search near the Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha for the missing airliner, according to Henry Wilson, a spokesman for the Brazilian Air Force.
According to Jean-Louis Borloo, France's second-most senior cabinet member, there appeared to be little hope that the aircraft might have glided to safety somewhere. "By now it would be beyond its kerosene reserves, so unfortunately we must now envisage the most tragic scenario," he told reporters.
Air France spokeswoman Brigitte Barrand confirmed the grim tidings, saying there had been no contact with the pilot "for a while," and added that the airline "shares the emotion and worry of the families concerned."
The airline has set up a hotline for people seeking information about the flight. In France, readers can call: 0-800-800-812. Outside the country, one can call: 33-1-57-02-10-55.