Air France Flight 447: Timeline

A look at the events surrounding the disappearance of Air France Flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, according to Air France and the Brazilian Air Force. All times are in Brazilian local time.

7:03 p.m. - Sunday, May 31, 2009

Air France says plane left Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian Air Force says plane left at 7:30 p.m.

10:30 p.m. - May 31, 2009

Air France says plane has last contact with Brazil air traffic control. Brazilian Air Force says last radio contact was at 10:33 p.m., 351 miles from the northeastern Brazilian city of Natal.

10:48 p.m. - May 31, 2009

Brazilian Air Force says last radar contact with Brazil indicated plane flying normally.

11 p.m. - May 31, 2009

Air France says plane entered zone of storms and high turbulence.

11:14 p.m. - May 31, 2009

Air France receives automatic message indicating electrical circuit malfunction.

11:20 p.m. - May 31, 2009

Brazilian Air Force says plane fails to make previously scheduled radio contact with Brazil. Brazil notifies air traffic control in Dakar, Senegal.

2-3 a.m - Monday, June 1, 2009

Air France says French military radar begins searching for plane.

2:30 a.m. - June 1, 2009

Brazilian Air Force says it mounts search and rescue mission with two planes.

4:30 am - June 1, 2009

Air France says it sets up crisis center.

6:15 a.m. - June 1, 2009

Plane's scheduled arrival in Paris, according to Air France.

8:30 a.m. - June 1, 2009

Brazilian Air Force says it was told by Air France about the message the plane sent to the company. The message indicated technical problems, including a loss of pressure and an electrical system failure, the Brazilian Air Force says.

June 2, 2009

The Brazilian Air Force announces search crews have spotted an airplane seat, a life jacket, metallic wreckage and signs of fuel in two debris fields about 35 miles apart, located about 410 miles beyond the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha, roughly along Flight 447's path from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.