SOBBING relatives of passengers aboard the airliner were being comforted by doctors at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris yesterday.
Most relatives were already in tears when they reached the airport, clearly aware of the tragedy.
But an elderly woman, coming to meet her son, only learned of the drama when she sought information from attendants after seeing the word "cancelled" next to the TWA flight number.
Ms Francoise Rudetsky, head of the SOS Attentats association, which helps victims of terrorist attacks, said airport officials had told her 40 French people were among the passengers and crew.
French officials said it was too early to say whether terrorism or sabotage were involved.
President Jacques Chirac expressed shock and dismay at the disaster and confirmed there had been French citizens aboard.
In a message of condolence issued by his office, Mr Chirac told President Clinton he was sure the causes of the mid air explosion would be discovered.
"The terrible accident on the New York Paris TWA flight makes me feel deeply shocked and dismayed", said the French leader, who is on a visit to Congo.
The Prime Minister, Mr Alain Juppe, touring Corsica, told reporters: "This tragedy is even more horrible as it occurs a few days before the opening of the Atlanta Olympic Games. But at this moment, we cannot yet say if it was an attack.
About 100 psychologists, doctors, nurses and airline officials in hastily mustered "trauma response teams" were helping to console and inform between 20 and 30 relatives and friends of passengers at the airport.
Some of the relatives fainted, many broke down in tears, and all suffered shock. Uncertainty compounded their ordeal as for several hours the airline was unable to confirm the names of victims.
The strain took its toll on the comforters themselves, and many emerged red eyed for a break.
"Half of the relatives and friends refused to accept the accident. They went on hoping", said Mr Michel Clerel, the airport's chief medical officer.
A TWA spokesman, Mr Gilbert Dennemont, said the airline had a complete list of passengers and had received permission from the US National Transportation - Safety Board to notify next of kin but not to release the names the media.
Having ascertained the relatives' identities, airport officials put a red sticker on their handbags or lapels and they were escorted by police officers, who kept journalists at bay.
A distraught British tour guide told reporters she had come to await a group of 21 people from Pennsylvania, mostly American high school students aged 16-18, who were to improve their French during a visit to Paris, Nice and Switzerland.
She said the group was organised by the Council for International Studies.
Mr Dennemont said some passengers had been booked on a flight to Rome which was cancelled and caught the Paris flight instead, planning to transfer to Rome from the French capital.
TWA flight 800 had been expected at Charles de Gaulle airport at 0815 local time (0615 GMT).
Mr Dennemont said the flight used to continue to Tel Aviv, but the Israel leg was discontinued last January.
At Charles de Gaulle, Mr Clerel said arriving relatives were being ushered into a closed off area where medical personnel spoke to them individually for 10 or 15 minutes each.
"Afterwards we leave them alone and then come back to them to see what state they are in. That's the best method", he said.