A Texas semiconductor firm says that 20 of its employees were passengers aboard a missing Malaysia Airlines jet that has vanished.
Freescale president and CEO Gregg Lowe said 12 of its employees aboard the plane were from Malaysia and another eight were from China.
"At present, we are solely focused on our employees and their families," he said in a statement on Saturday.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragic event."
The twin-engine jet was flying on Saturday from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it slipped off radar screens somewhere between Malaysia's east coast and southern Vietnam, triggering an international search effort.
It was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew.
Vietnam says its search planes have spotted oil slicks in the sea and ships are on the way to search for refuse.
