It is an all-too-familiar scene — the worry, the tears, the lack of information, the frustration, the anger.
Little is known so far about the fate of the passengers on the EgyptAir plane that went missing early Thursday somewhere between Paris and Cairo.
More than 30 relatives and loved ones arrived at Cairo International Airport to await word about EgyptAir Flight 804. They gathered at the EgyptAir In-Flight Center, where doctors and translators were available — but, they say, little information.
One man said he had four family members aboard the flight. But by and large, authorities shielded the relatives from the press, and talking to them directly was nearly impossible.
Many took to social media to express their grief, their worries and their hopes.
One man who called himself Mohamed Khalf asked for prayers.
“Kindly Pray for Egyptair Flight MS804…I have a friend on that plane,” the tweet said.
According to a list from EgyptAir, the passengers included 30 Egyptians, 15 French nationals, one Briton, one Kuwaiti, one Saudi, one Chadian, one Portuguese from Algeria, one Canadian and one Sudanese.
Some said the information to date has been far too sparse.
One family left the Cairo family holding room and complained, with anger and tears, there was no information about what had happened or who had been on the flight.
And British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond tweeted his concern over a Briton on board the plane. He did not name the person.
