In pictures: Air France search continues

As the search for missing Air France Flight 447 continued on Tuesday, newspapers like this one in Rio de Janeiro carried images of some of the 228 passengers and crew, most of whom were Brazilian or French.

In Paris, members of the French government observed a minute of silence in memory of those on board the plane which vanished over the Atlantic Ocean off the Brazilian coast on Monday.

As the world waited for news, journalists thronged the Air France check-in desk in Tom Jobim Airport, Rio de Janeiro, from where the missing flight departed on Monday en route for Paris.

Air France staff were stunned by news that the Airbus jet had vanished four hours into its flight.

Col Laurent Mathou, left, and Capt David Turquet

In Dakar, Senegal, Col Laurent Mathou, left, commander of the French Air Base, and military pilot Capt David Turquet described the vast area being combed for the downed airliner.

Meanwhile in Roissy, near Paris, relatives of missing passengers were being comforted at a hotel near Charles de Gaulle airport. Another crisis centre has been set up at Tom Jobim airport in Rio.

Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, left, and Jean Cyril Spinetta

Air France-KLM president Jean Cyril Spinetta, right, and Air France-KLM chief executive Pierre-Henri Gourgeon arrived at the Roissy hotel to meet families of passengers. Mr Gourgeon said the company "shared their pain".

Those anxiously awaiting news include Patricia Coakley, of Yorkshire, England, whose husband Arthur Coakley is believed to be one of five Britons aboard Flight AF 447.