Several famous Chinese calligraphers and painters have been confirmed to have boarded a missing Malaysia Airlines flight following their exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.

The passenger manifest, released by the airline to Malaysian media, included Meng Gaosheng, Wang Linshi, Liu Rusheng and 21 other artists.

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Meng Gaosheng was vice president of the Chinese Calligraphy Artist Association. Wang Linshi was a member of the Chinese Calligraphers & Painters Association, and Liu Rusheng was with the Chinese Calligrapher Association. 

A 34-year-old oil painter, Maimaitijiang Abula, an ethnic Uighur from Xinjiang, was also with the 24-member artist delegation returning from Kuala Lumpur where they attended an exhibition on March 5.

They were supposed to be back in Beijing on March 8, said Ma Yongan, president of the Chinese Calligraphy Artist Association. 

The 24 Chinese calligraphers and painters came from such cities as Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong, Jiangsu and Sichuan, the China Daily reported.

"I was supposed to be on that plane," said Liu Hongwei, who said he had been invited to attend the event by his close friend Meng, the leader of the delegation.

"But I was too busy with my work," said Liu. "I really wanted to go. If Meng had insisted, I would have gone with him."

Liu said he felt terrible about the tragedy and felt a cold shiver run through his spine upon hearing of the news. 

"It could have been me," he said.

Li Junfeng, a friend of Liu Rusheng, said if the plane has indeed crashed, he'd be losing a great friend and a business partner.

Ma said they are not sure where the other artists are at this point because the plane's passenger manifest did not contain all the names of the 24-member delegation.