Airbus on route to Singapore carrying 162 people missing

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BBC News

Contact with Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501 lost after it left Surabaya in Indonesia

The Airbus A320-200 was carrying 162 people when it went missing over the sea en route to Singapore
The plane had asked to change its flight path due to bad weather, AirAsia said.
Most on board are Indonesian - one passenger has been confirmed as a British national
An emergency phone line for relatives has been set up - +622 129 850 801

A British national was on board missing AirAsia flight QZ8501, the UK Foreign Office has confirmed.

The FCO said the passenger's next of kin had been informed.

The airline had originally released a statement listing the nationalities of passengers and crew as Indonesian, South Korean, Singaporean, Malaysian and French.

Flight QZ8501 from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore went missing in the early hours of Sunday.

An FCO spokesman said: "We are aware of an incident regarding AirAsia flight QZ8501.

"Our thoughts are with the passengers' families as they await further news.

"We have been informed by the local authorities that one British national was on board. Their next of kin has been informed, and we stand ready to provide consular assistance."

A spokesman for the British Embassy in Jakarta said it was working with local authorities to establish further details.

'Stay strong'

The Airbus A320-200 lost contact with air traffic control almost two hours after take-off from Surabaya.

The plane had requested a "deviation" from its planned flight path due to bad weather, AirAsia said.

AirAsia's chief executive Tony Fernandes, who also owns UK Premier League football team Queens Park Rangers, tweeted: "Thank you for all your thoughts and prays. we must stay strong."

He later wrote on Twitter that he was travelling to Surabaya, where most of the passengers were from.

There were 155 passengers, including 16 children and one infant, and seven crew on the flight, according to AirAsia.

The airline has set up an emergency line for family or friends of those who may have been on the aircraft. The number is +622 129 850 801.

Travel editor of the Independent, Simon Calder, said investigators would be focusing on flying conditions as bad weather may have been a factor in the incident.

AirAsia, a budget airline which owns 49% of AirAsia Indonesia, is based in Malaysia and has never lost a plane.

This is the third time a Malaysia-based airline has lost a plane this year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30615389?n ... ws_central

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AirAsia airliner missing

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