An AirAsia Airbus A320-200 has gone missing on a flight from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore, shortly after the pilots requested to change the flight plan because of weather.
The plane, flight QZ8501 with 162 people on board lost contact with air traffic control en route from Indonesia to Singapore.
Transport ministry spokesperson JA Barata told AFP, “The AirAsia flight flying from Surabaya to Singapore lost contact with Jakarta at 7:55am local time,”
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,” AirAsia said.
The plane was carrying six crew and 155 passengers – 138 adults, 16 children and a baby, Barata said.
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 local time.