CARACAS, Venezuela -- An Air France plane carrying 228 people from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Paris has disappeared off the Brazilian coast after hitting strong turbulence, officials reported Monday morning.
Air France plane with 228 people on board was presumed to have crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Monday after hitting heavy turbulence during a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.The airline offered its condolences to the families of the passengers, making clear it did not expect to find survivors.
At least 60 of those on board were French, roughly 60 were Brazilians and two were Slovaks, their countries said.Brazilian officials feared that the Airbus A330 had gone down with 216 passengers and 12 crew members aboard.
