Gambian in Air France Plane Tragedy

A Gambian whose details is yet to be known have been reported to be on board the Air France flight that went missing since Monday, a statement on the airline's website said yesterday.

Most of the passengers on board the Air France plane, which has disappeared over the Atlantic, were Brazilians and French nationals, airline officials said. The airline confirmed that 61 French and 58 Brazilian passengers were among the 216 passengers on board flight 447.

A list provided by Brazil's authorities had shown that 26 Germans were also on board, as well as nine Chinese and nine Italians. Six Swiss, five British, five Lebanese and four Hungarians were on the flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

Those on board also included three Irish, three Norwegians, three Slovaks, two Americans, two Moroccans, as well as individuals from Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia, the Philippines, The Gambia, Iceland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and Turkey. However, no details were given about the 12-crew members.

"Air France expresses its deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the passengers and crew who were on board this flight", the airline said in a statement on its website. It said it was doing its utmost to support relatives and friends, and had set up counselling services at both French and Brazilian airports.