AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ 8501 from Surabaya to Singapore with 162 people is missing

AirAsia (AirAsia.com) (Indonesia) (Indonesia AirAsia) (Jakarta) flight QZ 8501 with 162 passengers and crew members flying from Surabaya to Singapore is missing. The crew flying Airbus A320-200 (PK-AXC) lost radar contact with Indonesian Air Traffic Control (ATC) this morning (December 28). Aircraft searching today were unable to locate the missing flight. The flight is now missing for over 12 hours due to the time difference. It is now getting dark again in Indonesia and the search with aircraft will resume tomorrow. However ships will continue to search for the aircraft overnight.

Indonesia AirAsia, formerly AWAir (Air Wagon International), is owned by Fersindo Nusaperkasa (51%) and AirAsia Berhad (AirAsia Malaysia) (49%). The airline operates under the AirAsia brand. The general media is incorrectly calling this a Malaysian airline due to its confusion with the much larger AirAsia (Kuala Lumpur).

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We will continue to update this report as further information is received.

AirAsia has changed its normal red logo to this basic black-gray logo in mourning of missing flight QZ 8501.

AirAsia has issued this updated statement:

AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ 8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24 (Surabaya LT) this morning (December 28). The flight took off from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya at 0535 hours.

The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC. There were two pilots, four flight attendants and one engineer on board.

The captain in command had a total of 6,100 flying hours and the first officer a total of 2,275 flying hours

There were 155 passengers on board, with 138 adults, 16 children and 1 infant. Also on board were 2 pilots and 5 cabin crew.

Nationalities of passengers:

1 Singapore
1 Malaysia
3 South Korea
1 United Kingdom
149 Indonesia

Nationalities of crew:

1 France
6 Indonesia

At this time, search and rescue operations are being conducted under the guidance of The Indonesia of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). AirAsia Indonesia is cooperating fully and assisting the investigation in every possible way.

The aircraft was on the submitted flight plan route and was requesting deviation due to enroute weather before communication with the aircraft was lost while it was still under the control of the Indonesian Air Traffic Control (ATC).

The aircraft had undergone its last scheduled maintenance on November 16, 2014.

Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group CEO stated on Twitter:

“I am touched by the massive show of support especially from my fellow airlines. This is my worse nightmare. But there is no stopping. I, as your group CEO, will be there through these hard times. We will go through this terrible ordeal together.”

Previously Tony stated on Twitter:

“On my way to Surabaya where most of the passangers are from as with my Indonesian management. Providing information as we get it.”

There were reported thunderstorms in the path of the airliner. This area is currently in their monsoon season (rainy season).

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-216 PK-AXC (msn 3648) of AirAsia Indonesia is pictured arriving at Singapore prior to today’s event. PK-AXC was delivered new on October 15, 2008.

Below Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Another view of PK-AXC at Singapore.