Aviation minister holds press conference on missing plane

Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fathi will hold on Thursday a press conference on missing EgyptAir flight at 1:30 pm at the headquarters of the Civil Aviation Ministry.

The national flag carrier has earlier said that Flight MS804 with 66 persons on board disappeared from radar 10 miles after entering the Egyptian air field.

Some 56 passengers along with 10 crew members were on board the Airbus A320.

The Armed Forces sent a number of planes and naval units to search for the plane that disappeared from radar earlier Thursday.

Greece sent a plane in coordination with Egypt to contribute to search and rescue efforts.

The national carrier said 56 passengers, including 30 Egyptian, 15 French and two Iraqis, and 10 crew members were on board the missing plane. 

Other passengers are from Britain, Belgium, Canada, Portugal, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Sudan and Chad, the source added.

EgyptAir secured a number of doctors and translators to help the families of those who were on board the missing plane, the source said.

The relatives of passengers can call an EgyptAir hotline on 0800 7777 0000 from any landline in Egypt, it added.

Source: MENA