Illustration of Malaysia Airlines' aircraft B777-200, screenshot from Malaysia Airlines official website. (Source: Agencies)

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Xinhua) -- A Malaysian passenger plane carrying 239 people, including 227 passengers and 12 crew members, has lost contact with air traffic control after leaving Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur, the carrier said Saturday.

Malaysia Airlines said flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200, lost touch with Subang Air Traffic Control around 02:40 a.m. local time Saturday morning (1840 GMT Friday).

Chinese aviation authorities have confirmed that there were 160 Chinese nationals aboard the plane.

The aircraft left Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 00:41 a.m. (1641 GMT Friday) and was expected to land in Beijing at 06:30 a.m. (2230 GMT Friday).

"The flight was carrying 227 passengers (including two infants), 12 crew members," the airline said in a statement posted on its website.

"Malaysia Airlines is currently working with the authorities who have activated their search and rescue team to locate the aircraft," the airline said.

The flight MH370 with 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board lost radar contact in airspace controlled by Vietnam in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Chinese Embassy in Malaysia has formed an emergency team headed by the Chinese Ambassador to deal with the incident.