BREAKING: Malaysia Airlines says it has lost contact with Boeing 777

Malaysia Airlines says it has lost contact with a flight carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members en route to Beijing.

The airline said in a statement that flight MH370 disappeared at 02:40 local time on Saturday (18:40 GMT on Friday).

It was expected to land in Beijing at 06:30 (22:30 GMT).

“Malaysia Airlines is currently working with the authorities who have activated their search and rescue team to locate the aircraft,” the carrier said.

The Boeing B777-200 aircraft was carrying 227 passengers, including two infants, and 12 crew members.

It went missing two hours after taking off from Kuala Lumpur.

The airline has told the BBC it will be holding a press conference later on Saturday.

Malaysia Airlines is the national carrier of Malaysia and one of Asia’s largest, flying nearly 37,000 passengers daily to some 80 destinations worldwide. BBC.

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