Filepic: AirAsia Airbus aircraft on the tarmac after landing at Ngurah Rai Internation Airport in Denpasar on the resort island of Bali. - AFP
PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Indonesia has confirmed that Flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with Indonesian air traffic control.
"AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact 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,” they said in a statement posted on their Facebook page on Sunday.
The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC. They said that at this time, search and rescue operations are in progress.
AirAsia has also established an Emergency Call Centre that is available for families or friends of those who may have been on board the aircraft. The number is:+622129850801.
Flight QZ8501, which took off on Sunday morning from Juanda International Airport lost contact in Indonesian airspace around 7.24am, local time (8.24am Malaysian time).
Earlier, according to Kompas.com, Indonesia’s Air Transport Ministry director Djoko Murjatmojo confirmed that the plane was missing in Indonesian airspace.
“At this moment, I’m at the observation post waiting for reports to come in,” said Djoko.
He said the ministry would come out with a statement with regards to the missing flight.
According to Indonesia’s Metro TV, the flight manifest stated that there were 155 passengers on board.
Out of the number, 138 were adults, 16 children and one infant.
The plane was also carrying two pilots, four cabin crew and one technical staff.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai confirmed that he had received an alert over the missing flight and was awaiting details.
Civil Aviation Department Director-General Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman also confirmed the incident.
