Airbus A330 lost over Atlantic

Flight Air France 447 was bound for Paris with 228 passengers and crew onboard. The flight left Rio 19.00hrs local time. The aircraft had sent an automatic message at 11.14 local time reporting a short circuit. There is speculation that the aircraft may have been struck by lightning. A spokesperson for the Brazilian Air Froce Col Henry Munhoz said on Brazilian TV that the radar was picked up by the Cape Verde Islands radar system as expected and that air force planes were searching for the missing plane. Air France has opened a telephone hotline for friends and relatives of people on the plane - 00 33 157021055 for callers outside France and 0800 800812 for inside France.