At this stage, it remains unclear whether a formal investigation is underway as the family say they are “extremely worried”
11:43, 29 Jul 2025Updated 11:50, 29 Jul 2025
East Belfast man Robert Kincaid has been missing in Paris(Image: family photograph)
The family of a Northern Irish man who vanished after landing in Paris are growing increasingly desperate as they search for answers. Robert Kincaid was due to return home from West Africa earlier this month, but hasn’t been seen or heard from since he arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport on 17 July.
The 38-year-old, from Tullycarnet in East Belfast, had travelled from Benin and was due to board a connecting flight to Dublin. He later told a friend he was in the airport bar after missing his flight, but when his family tried to contact him, they were met with silence. Two FaceTime calls to his phone that evening were answered by unknown individuals, one man, then a woman. Since then, there has been no trace of him.
Robert’s brother, Louis, is expected to arrive in Paris on Wednesday to begin searching for him directly. The family have reported his disappearance to the PSNI and are working closely with the British Embassy in France, but so far they remain without answers. They say they are “extremely worried” and are urging anyone who might have seen or spoken to Robert to come forward.
READ MORE: Family preparing to fly to France to search for Belfast man missing for 10 daysREAD MORE: Jaidyn Rice: Man charged after Bangor crash that killed 16-year-oldWho is Robert Kincaid?
38-year-old Robert Kincaid from Tullycarnet in East Belfast has been reported missing after failing to return home from working in West Africa. He had been working on an oil rig in Benin and was due to fly home to Dublin Airport on 17 July. His disappearance has sparked deep concern from his family, who say they haven’t heard from him in nearly two weeks.
Where was he last seen?
Robert is believed to have arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on the morning of Tuesday 17 July after flying from Cotonou, Benin. The only commercial flight that would have gotten him there that morning was Air France Flight AFR805, which departed Cotonou at 11:38pm on 16 July and landed in Paris at 7:10am.
What happened next?
According to his family, Robert missed his connecting flight to Dublin later that day. That evening, he spoke to a friend and said he was in a bar at the airport, waiting after having missed the flight.
Later that night, when a FaceTime call was made to his phone, it was reportedly answered by an unknown man who appeared to be in a corrugated hut and spoke broken English. A second attempt was answered by a woman. Since then, there has been no contact from Robert, and messages sent via WhatsApp and social media have gone unanswered.
Has he been officially reported missing?
Yes. The family reported Robert missing to the PSNI, and the case has been referred to French authorities through Interpol. They are also in ongoing contact with the British Embassy in Paris, which is offering consular support.
A missing poster for Robert Kincaid, which the family will distribute in ParisIs there CCTV footage of Robert at the airport?
The family has been informed that due to GDPR issues, they may have difficulty accessing CCTV footage and other details that may help them piece together Robert’s whereabouts.
Is there an active search in France?
At this stage, it remains unclear whether a formal investigation is underway. The Préfecture de Police in Paris referred queries from Belfast Live to judicial authorities in Paris and Bobigny, the area which includes Charles de Gaulle Airport. Judicial authorities in Bobigny have confirmed to Belfast Live that they had not been informed about the case, and officials in Paris have advised that searches for missing persons typically begin as administrative procedures, not judicial investigations.
What is the family doing now?
Robert’s brother, Louis, is flying to Paris on Wednesday to begin searching for him directly. He is expected to meet with representatives from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and continue efforts to trace Robert’s movements at the airport.
What should people do if they have information?
Anyone with information is asked to contact the PSNI, the British Embassy in Paris, or local French authorities.
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