AirAsia flight QZ8501 was reportedly in the Indonesian Flight Information Region (FIR) when contact was lost, more than 200-nautical miles southeast of the Singapore-Jakarta FIA boundary.
The vessel was carrying a total of 155 passengers was scheduled to arrive in Singapore at approximately 8.30am.
At approximately 11.30am AirAsia in a Facebook posting confirmed that the vessel from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 7.42am, Sunday.
"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."
The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC.
The airline also stated that at present time, search and rescue operations are in progress and AirAsia is cooperating fully and assisting the rescue service.
AirAsia has also established an Emergency Call Centre that is available for family or friends of those who may have been on board the aircraft. The number is: +622129850801.
AirAsia will release further information as soon as it becomes available. Updated information will also be posted on the AirAsia website.
Indonesia Transport Ministry official, Hadi Mustofa was quoted by Sky News as saying that the aircraft had lost contact with the Jakarta air traffic control tower at approximately 6.17am, local time.
Hadi said that 'the plane had asked for an unusual route' before contact went blank.
AirAsia has changed their Facebook profile image to a grey logo in view of the plight of flight QZ8501 which was reportedly missing en route from Surabaya to Singapore. - Source Photo AirAsia Facebook
Flightradar24 in a Tweet post reported that the aircraft had lost contact with the air traffic control tower over Java Sea between Java and Kalimantan islands.
Malaysian airline AirAsia said a search and rescue operation was underway Sunday for flight QZ8501.
Kompas TV had reported that 155 passengers comprising 149 Indonesians, three Koreans, a Singaporean, a Briton and a Malaysian. Out of the total, 138 were adults, 16 children and a baby. Seven crew members were on board. Also on board were five crew members and two pilots.
AirAsia Group CEO and Founder of Tune Group Tan Sri Tony Fernandes in a Tweet posting, said:
Meanwhile, Hadi Mustofa Djuraid told Metro TV Indonesia that the aircraft had requested for an ‘unusual’ route before communication was lost. Hadi, however refused further comment.
“Bad weather was reported around the site before communication was lost. We had just received weather report from the National Meteorology Department, geophysics and climatologist agency, said Hadi.
Indonesia Aviation official Marsma Hadi Tjahjanto has confirmed that his counterparts are using the last contact point of the aircraft to mobilise search via air.
He said that the radar on the weather condition had stated, “cloudy”, Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Singapore news portal, The Straits Times reported that Singapore RSAF will dispatch flight C130 to aid in the search mission to locate the missing flight.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia will facilitate assistance to aid Indonesia in its search mission.
