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AirAsia flight ‘missing’ after takeoff from Indonesia
December 28, 2014, 5:10 am

The AirAsia passenger plane was an Airbus A320-200 such as the one above seen at a Berlin air show in 2012 [Xinhua]

The AirAsia passenger plane was an Airbus A320-200 such as the one above seen at a Berlin air show in 2012 [Xinhua]

Indonesian air traffic control authorities have confirmed than an AirAsia Airbus A320-200 went off radar shortly after takeoff after 7am local time from Surabaya, East Java headed for Singapore.

Flight QZ8501, carrying 155 passengers and six crew, was reported missing 42 minutes after takeoff and an hour before it was scheduled to land in Singapore, Indonesian Transportation Ministry official Hadi Mustafa told local media.

AirAsia said in a statement that search and rescue operations were already underway.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said its Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) has offered to help the Indonesian search and rescue operations.

“Two C130 aircraft are already on standby for this purpose. We remain ready to provide any assistance to support the search and rescue efforts,” it said.

The Jakarata Post said it had received reports that the pilots had requested a course change; however, that has not yet been confirmed by AirAsia.

Source: Agencies