Update: Air France vanish after lightning strike
Published:Monday | June 1, 2009 | 1:21 PM
An Air France plane carrying 228 people from Brazil to France has vanished over the Atlantic after a possible lightning strike.
Airline officials say the Airbus sent an automatic message four hours after leaving Rio de Janeiro, reporting a short circuit as it flew through strong turbulence.
They say it was well over the ocean when it was lost, making the task of Brazilian and French search planes more difficult.
The Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris has since set up a crisis centre.
The flight had 216 passengers and 12 crew on board, including three pilots.
The French government says most of those aboard were Brazilians while the others included 40 French people and at least 20 Germans.
A number of Italians and Britons are also believed to have been aboard.