Timeline: Disappearance Of Air France Jet

(AP)  Timeline of events surrounding the disappearance of Air France Flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, according to Air France, Brazilian Air Force. All times in Brazilian local time:


7:03 p.m. Sunday: Air France says plane left Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian Air Force says plane left at 7:30 p.m.

10:30 p.m. Sunday: Air France says plane has last contact with Brazil air traffic control. Brazilian Air Force says last radio contact at 10:33 p.m., 351 miles (565 kilometers) from northeastern Brazilian city of Natal.

10:48 p.m.: Brazilian Air Force says last radar contact with Brazil indicated plane flying normally.

11 p.m. Sunday: Air France says plane entered zone of storms and high turbulence.

11:14 p.m. Sunday: Air France receives automatic message indicating electrical circuit malfunction.

11:20 p.m. Sunday: 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: Air France says French military radar begins searching for plane.

2:30 a.m. Monday: Brazilian Air Force says it mounts search and rescue mission with two planes.

4:30 am Monday: Air France says it sets up crisis center.

6:15 a.m. Monday: Plane's scheduled arrival in Paris, according to Air France.

8:30 a.m. Monday: 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, Brazilian Air Force says.

[wogerwabbit]

You don't fly through thunderstorms... you go around them... that's why you carry extra fuel for such contingencies. Pilot error.

[baileyccc]

This plane could have been hijack and flown in under the radar to Africa. Don't rule this out.

[gunownerdan]

It's hard to imagine going through a nightmare like this for the thousands of friends and family members of those involved. Nothing but time can heal the pain of losing a loved one. My heart goes out to them.