A sign informing the next-of-kin of passengers of AirAsia flight QZ 8501 from Surabaya to Singapore is seen next to an information counter at Changi Airport in Singapore today. The man pictured at the counter is not the next-of-kin. – Reuters pic, December 28, 2014.Singaporean and Indonesian militaries are conducting a massive air and sea search for AirAsia flight Q8501 that went missing earlier today, as provincial officials try to confirm a reported air crash off the Sumatran east coast.
Malaysia has also offered help to find the Airbus A320-200, the first to go missing from AirAsia, Asia's largest low-cost carrier that began operations in Malaysia 13 years ago.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Putrajaya would assist AirAsia in finding missing Flight QZ8501.
"I haven't received much information for now, just that it is confirmed that the plane is missing.
"We (the government) will help find out what happened to the plane," he told the media in Lipis, Pahang today.
There are 155 passengers and crew members aboard the Singapore-bound jet which had lost contact with the Surabaya air traffic control after it flew out of the east Java city at 5.20am Indonesian time. It was due to land at 8.30am Singapore time.
Malaysian flag carrier Malaysia Airlines lost two Boeing 777 this year, with flight MH370 still missing after vanishing from the radar on March 8 while flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine on July 17.
Reuters quoted Hadi Mustofa of the Indonesian Transport Ministry as saying that flight QZ8501 lost contact with Jakarta at 6.17am local time. The aircraft was reported to have requested an “unusual” route.
Reuters cited an Indonesian official as saying that flight QZ8501 had asked to fly at a higher altitude to avoid clouds.
Changi airport said on its website the status of the flight was "delayed".
AirAsia Indonesia, on Twitter, confirmed that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with the air traffic control at 7.24am today.
It said that the aircraft was an Airbus A320-200, bearing the registration number, PK-AXC.
"Search and rescue operations are in progress and AirAsia is cooperating fully and assisting the rescue service."
Breaking his silence for the first time since news of the missing aircraft broke, AirAsia group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernades thanked everyone for their well wishes.
"Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We must stay strong," he tweeted on his Twitter account, adding that another statement would be issued soon.
The passengers comprised 138 adults, 16 children and an infant. The crew members consisted of two pilots, four crew members and a technician.
There are 149 Indonesians on board, three Koreans, one Singaporean, one Briton and one Malaysian.
The airline has set up an emergency call centre for family or friends of those on board the aircraft at +62 21 2985 0801.
Updated information will also be posted on the AirAsia website, www.airasia.com. – December 28, 2014.
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