Search for Kenya Airways Plane Suspended

The search for a missing Kenyan Airlines plane that disappeared shortly after takeoff in Cameroon was suspended as darkness closed in Saturday.

Many relatives of passengers on the Boeing 737-800 gathered at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi. While Kenya Airways was still confirming only that the plane was missing, there was little hope that it had not crashed.

We can only hope for the best and pray… We’re anxious and desperate, one man told the BBC.

Flight KQ507′s last communication came shortly after it took off from Douala just after midnight Saturday. The flight originated Friday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Nine crew members and 105 passengers were believed to be aboard. At least 23 nationalities were represented.

A BBC correspondent said heavy rain prevented a ground search Saturday, although aircraft flew over the area. The search was scheduled to resume at dawn Sunday.

The United States is sending an investigation team from the National Transportation Safety Board to assist with the crash investigation. Kenya is also sending a team headed by Minister of Transport Chirau Makwere.

The 737 is one of the newest in the Kenya Airways fleet, said Titus Naikuni, the airline’s managing director.