AirAsia says search operation underway for missing plane

This file photo taken on August 16, 2011 shows an AirAsia Airbus passenger plane landing at Hong Kong's international airport. AFP PHOTO | LAURENT FIEVET 

In Summary

• Communication with the aircraft was lost while it was still under the control of the Indonesian Air Traffic Control.
• A search and rescue operation was underway Sunday for plane.

By AFP
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KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysian airline AirAsia said a search and rescue operation was underway Sunday for flight QZ8501 which went missing en route from Indonesia to Singapore.

The Airbus A320-200 with 162 people on board left Juanda international airport in Surabaya in east Java at 5:20 am Sunday and had been expected to arrive in Singapore at 8:30 am (0030 GMT).

"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 airline said.

Air Asia said the pilot had requested "deviation" from the flight plan because of bad weather.

"The aircraft... was requesting deviation due to enroute weather," the Malaysia-based carrier said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

"Communication with the aircraft was lost while it was still under the control of the Indonesian Air Traffic Control (ATC),” the airline said.

The White House said it was monitoring the situation surrounding disappearance of the plane.

"The president has been briefed on AirAsia Flight 8501 and White House officials will continue to monitor the situation," White House spokesman Eric Schultz said late Saturday.