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AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501 to Singapore missing | |
(35 minutes later) | |
An AirAsia Indonesia airliner flying from Indonesia to Singapore with 162 people on board has lost contact with air traffic control. | |
Flight QZ8501 went missing at 07:24 (23:24 GMT), AirAsia tweeted. | |
The plane, an Airbus A320-200, disappeared midway into the flight of more than two hours and no distress call was issued. | |
Indonesian military planes and aircraft from Singapore are searching an area of the Java Sea. | |
The flight left the Indonesian city of Surabaya in eastern Java at 05:20 local time (22:20 GMT) and was due to arrive in Singapore at 08:30 (00:30 GMT). | |
The missing jet had requested a "deviation" from the flight path due to bad weather, AirAsia said. | |
Indonesia's transport ministry said the pilot had asked permission to climb to 38,000 ft (11,000m) to avoid thick cloud. | |
AirAsia, a budget airline which owns 49% of AirAsia Indonesia, is based in Malaysia and has never lost a plane. | |
However, 2014 has been a difficult year for aviation in Asia: Malaysia's national carrier Malaysia Airlines has suffered two losses - flights MH370 and MH17. | |
Emergency contact | Emergency contact |
There were 155 passengers on board, the company said in a statement: | There were 155 passengers on board, the company said in a statement: |
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that one Briton was on board the flight, and next of kin have been informed. | |
AirAsia has set up an emergency line for family or friends of those who may be on board. The number is +622 129 850 801. | AirAsia has set up an emergency line for family or friends of those who may be on board. The number is +622 129 850 801. |
Dozens of passengers' relatives have been gathering at Juanda airport in Surabaya and Singapore's Changi airport to hear news. | |
AirAsia's Chief Executive Tony Fernandes tweeted: "Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We must stay strong." | |
AirAsia Indonesia operates domestic flights round the Indonesian archipelago as well as international services to Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Thailand. | |
AirAsia Indonesia was banned from flying to the European Union in 2007 due to safety concerns but this was lifted in July 2010. | AirAsia Indonesia was banned from flying to the European Union in 2007 due to safety concerns but this was lifted in July 2010. |
The latest incident caps a tragic year for Malaysian aviation with the disappearance of one Malaysia Airlines plane and the downing of another. | |
Flight MH370 disappeared on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March with 239 passengers and crew. The wreckage, thought to be in southern Indian Ocean, has still not been located. | Flight MH370 disappeared on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March with 239 passengers and crew. The wreckage, thought to be in southern Indian Ocean, has still not been located. |
MH17 was shot down over Ukraine in July, killing all 298 on board. | MH17 was shot down over Ukraine in July, killing all 298 on board. |
Are you, or is someone you know, affected by this story? Do you know any of the passengers on the AirAsia flight? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with any information. Please leave a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Are you, or is someone you know, affected by this story? Do you know any of the passengers on the AirAsia flight? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with any information. Please leave a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
Have your say | Have your say |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |
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