Families anxiously wait for news of loved ones from EgyptAir flight MS804

ANGUISHED friends and family of those on board the missing EgyptAir flight have gathered at Paris and Cairo airports as they wait for news of their loved ones.

A relative of the victims of the EgyptAir flight 804 wipes her tears as she is comforted at Charles de Gaulle Airport outside of Paris. Picture: Photo/Michel Euler.

FRIENDS and family of the 66 people on board EgyptAir flight MS804 have gathered at airports in Paris and Cairo as they wait for news of their loved ones.

Pictures from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris show the anguish of family members as they comfort one another at the place that has become a rallying point for those affected. Families have also gathered in Cairo to wait for news.

Aviation officials speaking on condition of anonymity have confirmed the plane crashed and a search is underway for debris. Meanwhile, counter-terrorism officials have said they cannot rule out the possibility of a terror attack.

EgyptAir has confirmed the plane was carrying 30 Egyptian and 15 French passengers, as well as a Briton and a Canadian. Two Iraqis as well as passengers from Belgium, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Chad, Portugal and Algeria were also on board.

Reporters at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris said the EgyptAir counter remained unstaffed earlier.

Relatives face an anxious wait.

Reporters gather in front of the EgyptAir counter at Paris airport.

French Foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault speaks to journalists following a crisis meeting of top ministers at the Elysee Presidential palace in Paris.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said “no theory can be ruled out” regarding the plane’s disappearance.

EgyptAir earlier confirmed flight MS804 went missing after leaving from Charles de Gaulle at 11:09pm en route to Cairo.

There were 66 people on board including 56 passengers, three EgyptAir security staff and seven crew.

Families of passengers react to the tragic news.

Family and friends talk with journalists in front of the EgyptAir in-flight services in Cairo.

A relative of a passenger on-board is transported by bus to a gathering point at Cairo airport.