Missing Air Asia flight QZ8501 traveling from Surabaya , Indonesia to Singapore was carrying 162 passengers including; 149 Indonesians, 1 Singaporean, 1 Malaysian , 3 South Koreans & 1 English. Reports say that the pilot radioed for altitude change just before the flight went missing. Indonesian Transport Ministry official Hadi Mustofa said flight QZ 8501 lost contact with the Jakarta air traffic control tower at 7.24am local time.He said the plane had asked for an unusual route before contact was lost with Indonesia's Juanda International Airport in Surabaya. The flight was expected to arrive in Singapore at 8.30am.
Crisis management teams from Singapore & Indonesia is working together on the search operations, while Changi Airport has set up a waiting area & other facilities for the friends and relatives of the affected passengers. The airline has set up an emergency call centre for family or friends of those who may have been on board the aircraft.
