France, Greece join search for missing EgyptAir plane

French and Greek naval forces have joined the search for a missing EgyptAir plane, announced the Egyptian Armed Forces. 

In a statement Thursday, the Armed Forces said troops from the naval and armed forces have been deployed to locate an EgyptAir Paris-Cairo flight that disappeared off radar screens over the Mediterranean Sea with 66 people aboard.

Radar lost contact with the flight at 2:45 Cairo local time while it was at an altitude of 37,000 feet.

The flight took off from Charles de Gaulle airport on Wednesday 23:09 Paris local time then it disappeared from radar after entering the Egyptian airspace.

EgyptAir said that the captain had recorded more than 6,000 flying hours, including 2,000 hours in that model.

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.

Prime Minister Sherif Ismail declared a state of emergency in all bodies concerned with following up the developments of missing EgyptAir plane.

Ismail and Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fathi have arrived at Cairo Airport on news of the missing plane.

So far, there are no confirmed reports on reasons behind the disappearance of the plane.

Source : MENA