Air France Flight Status Still Missing After Take-Off From Rio

Air France Flight AF 447, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Paris, France left Sunday at 07:00 p.m. local time with 228 people on board and has gone missing since three hours into the flight.

The Airbus was expected at Charles de Gaulle Airport on Monday at 11:15 a.m. local time. Air France Chief Executive Pierre-Henri Gourgeon told reporters that the plane was well over the Atlantic when they ran into great turbulence and the airline fears they are dealing with an “air catastrophe.” The airline also said the plane sent an automatic message reporting an electrical fault at 02:14 GMT, abouty 15 minutes after the plane flew through a stormy area with strong turbulence. Seven children, one baby, and 12 crew members were included in the 226 passengers. Air France said the pilots were highly experienced. One theory is that the plane was struck by lightning and highjacking has been ruled out. Planes were dispatched from Africa and Brazil to hunt for the vessel.