Lawmakers, political advisors cross fingers for missing China-bound plane

Chinese lawmakers and political advisors are crossing fingers for passengers and crew onboard a Beijing-bound plane which lost contact with air traffic control on Saturday.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 carrying 239 people lost communication and radar signal two hours into the flight over Vietnam on early Saturday morning.

"The news saddens me greatly," said Li Bin, a deputy to the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

"I hope the authorities could locate the missing aircraft and all those on board the plane as soon as possible," said Li, a chief engineer with a Shanghai-based company.

The Boeing B777-200 aircraft departed Kuala Lumpur at 00:41 a.m. Saturday, and was expected to land in Beijing at 6:30 a.m.

According to Malaysia Airlines, a total of 154 Chinese nationals were onboard the plane, including one infant and one from Taiwan.

It lost communication and radar signal two hours into the flight over Vietnam at 1:20 a.m.

Earlier local media reports had alleged that the plane had crashed in waters off Vietnam's southern Phu Quoc Island, but the news was not confirmed by the Vietnamese government.

"I am deeply concerned with the passengers and the crew aboard," said He Xiangjiu, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee.

"I hope the search can be carried out in an active manner. As long as there is one percent of hope, there should be 100 percent of efforts. I am expecting their miraculous survival. I am praying for everyone onboard."

Zhou Hanmin, another political advisor, also said his thoughts were with passengers and crew onboard the missing aircraft.

"We pray for the safety of all onboard," he said.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of China's annual parliamentary session on Saturday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China is very worried over the missing Beijing-bound plane.

"The news is very disturbing. We hope everyone on the plane is safe," said Wang, adding that China's Foreign Ministry and the related departments had activated an emergency response mechanism.

"As soon as we have any more information, we will give it to you immediately," he told reporters.

China has already dispatched two maritime rescue ships to the South China Sea to help in rescue work for the missing aircraft.