Eight Chinese nationals were among the 228 people on board an Air France passenger plane which is presumed to have crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, the Chinese Embassy in Brazil said yesterday.

Of the eight Chinese, one was seeking investment immigrant status in Brazil, one was an employee of China's Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, and six were with Benxi Iron & Steel Company based in Liaoning Province.

Air France said the Airbus, from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, flew into stormy weather four hours after take-off from Brazil and soon afterwards sent an automatic message reporting electrical faults.