Five Britons on board missing plane

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A list posted on the airline's website said the Britons were among 228 people on board the Airbus A330 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.

The aircraft had run into stormy weather with strong turbulence around four hours into the flight.

About 15 minutes after the turbulence message, an automatic message was received from the plane - AF447 - indicating a failure in the electrical circuit.

David Learmount, of Flight International magazine, said: "An event like this is the kind the aviation world hoped it would not see again, because it involves a world-class carrier flying the latest generation of airliner, and it occurred en route, not during take-off or landing in difficult weather.

"It's a chilling reminder that nothing is impossible, however unthinkable."

Air France expressed its "deepest sympathy" to the relatives and friends of the 216 passengers and 12 crew.

It has opened freephone numbers reserved for relatives and friends. They are 0800 800 812 in France, 0800 881 20 20 in Brazil and + 33 1 57 02 10 55 for calls from all other countries.