AirAsia flight from Indonesia to Singapore confirmed missing

AirAsis has confirmed in a statement that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control.

AFP is reporting that the flight has 161 people on board. It lost contact with air traffic control en route from Indonesia to Singapore Sunday morning, an official said."The AirAsia flight flying from Surabaya to Singapore lost contact with Jakarta at 7:55am (local time)," transport ministry spokesman J.A. Barata told AFP.
The plane lost communication with Indonesia's Surabaya airport 42 minutes after takeoff, Hadi Mustofa, an official of the transportation ministry told Indonesia's MetroTV.

The Airbus plane left Juanda international airport in Surabaya in east Java at 5.20am and was expected to arrive in Singapore at 8.30am (1130 AEDT).The plane was carrying six crew and 155 passengers - 138 adults, 16 children and a baby, Barata said.

AirAsia said in a statement that the plane was an Airbus A320-200 and that search and rescue operations were in progress.

Mustofa said the plane lost contact when it was believed to be over the Java Sea between Kalimantan and Java islands.

Statement from AirAsia
"AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24hrs this morning.

At the present time we unfortunately have no further information regarding the status of the passengers and crew members on board, but we will keep all parties informed as more information becomes available.

The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC.

At this time, search and rescue operations are in progress and AirAsia is cooperating fully and assisting the rescue service.

AirAsia has established an Emergency Call Centre that is available for family or friends of those who may have been on board the aircraft. The number is: +622129850801.

AirAsia will release further information as soon as it becomes available. Updated information will also be posted on the AirAsia website, www.airasia.com."

List of passengers released
Initial reports out of Indonesia indicate that no Australians were aboard.

According to AAP, Indonesian TV has shown people in tears after finding their family members' names on the lists.

The airline has created an emergency call centre for family or friends who those who may have been on board the aircraft.

Information about those on the flight has been released on pinboards at a crisis centre set up at Surabaya's Juanda Airport.

Indonesian Air Force spokesman Hadi Tjahjanto told Metro TV one Boeing 737 surveillance plane had been deployed to the location where it's estimated the plane lost contact.

Source: SBS, AFP