Missing AirAsia QZ8501

An AirAsia Indonesia airliner with 162 people on board goes missing on way to Singapore from indonesia. The flight QZ8501 was due to arrive in Singapore at 8:30am today, but has lost contact with air traffic control at around 7:30am Singapore time.
 

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

This is the corrected list:

Nationalities of passengers:

1 Singapore

1 Malaysia

3 South Korea

1 United Kingdom

149 Indonesia

Nationalities of crew:

1 France

6 Indonesia

Here's the partial name list of those onboard from Detik.com

 

Dense clouds were reported at the area where the plane lost contact. The pilot had seeked permission to fly at a higher altitude of 38,000ft to avoid the clouds prevously, but the request was not approved due to another flight above. 5 minutes later, QZ8501 disappeared from the radar til now. [BBC]
 

Nobody dares to make presumption on what exactly happened to the aircraft at this moment.

Still, my heart goes out to the passengers and crew of QZ8501, and their families/loved ones for the uncertainty and anxiety they are having.

Official statement from AirAsia [Site]:

"AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24hrs this morning.

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.

At this time, search and rescue operations are in progress and AirAsia is cooperating fully and assisting the rescue service.

  

AirAsia has 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, www.airasia.com.

Note to Editors: We ask that members of the news media do not call the AirAsia Emergency Call Centre, as this line is reserved for family members seeking information about those who may have been on board."