Three Norwegian citizens were travelling on board the Air France plane which went missing with 228 persons over the Atlantic on Monday, on its way from Brazil to Paris, according to the Norwegian Department of Foreign Affairs

One of the missing Norwegians is an employee of the Norwegian energy company StatoilHydro. He was on his way to Norway on a business trip together with two of the company's Brazilian employees.

“We have learned that three of our people were on the flight with great sadness,” says chief executive Helge Lund.

“A tragedy like this makes a deep impression on us as colleagues and managers. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the next-of-kin,” Lund says.

A relative of an employee at the Brazilian office was also on the plane.

StatoilHydro is working to support the next-of-kin, and will cooperate closely with the authorities both in Norway and in Brazil.

“Naturally, the Brazilian organisation is particularly affected by this tragic accident,” says Mr Lund. “Our attention is now focused on supporting and assisting families and colleagues in Brazil, as well as in Norway.”

(NRK/Press release)

Rolleiv Solholm