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). The passengers were of 13 different nationalities, it added.

An official from the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia told Xinhua there were 153 Chinese nationals aboard, including one infant.

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).

Malaysia Airlines releases passenger list of flight MH370.

Contact number for most update situation

Malaysia Airlines: 006037884-1234;

Media contact number: 006038777-5777;

Chinese Embassy in Malaysia ：0065322531;

Embassy of Malaysia in China ：01065322531,32,33.

Malaysia Airlines Beijing office ：010-65052681.