Missing Malaysian jet carrying 239 people suspected to have run out of fuel

A passenger jet carrying 239 people that reportedly lost contact with Malaysian Airlines is suspected to have run out of fuel.

Flight MH 370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing lost contact with the Subang Air Traffic Control at about 2:40 a.m. local time.

Malaysia Airlines Vice President of Operations Control, Fuad Sharuji, said that they had no idea where the aircraft was, adding that they had tried to call through various means, but to no avail, CNN reports.

The airline said that the Boeing 777-200 departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 12:41 a.m. and was expected to land in Beijing at 6:30 a.m., and included 277 passengers, two infants, and 12 crew members.

Sharuji said that at the time of its disappearance, the plane was carrying about 7.5 hours of fuel.

The airline further said that it was working with the authorities that have activated their Search and Rescue team to locate the aircraft.

Meanwhile, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency said that the flight lost contact and its radar signal as it was flying over the Ho Chi Minh air traffic control area in Vietnam.

Retired American Airlines Capt. Jim Tilmon said that the plane was about as sophisticated as any commercial airplane could possibly be, with an excellent safety record, the report added.