Flight from Indonesia to Singapore goes missing

(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2014-12-28 11:49

2:16 pm

Singapore's military planes and vessels are on standby to help with the search-and-rescue operation for the missing AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen wrote on his Facebook page.

Flight from Indonesia to Singapore goes missing

A sign informing the next-of-kins of passengers of AirAsia flight QZ 8501 from Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore is seen next to an information counter at Changi Airport in Singapore December 28, 2014. The man pictured at the counter is not the next-of-kin.[Photo/Agencies]

2:02 pm

Families of those on board the aircraft have started arriving at Changi airport, Singapore, they have been ushered into a special holding area at Terminal 2.

A Changi Airport staff holds up a sign to direct possible next-of-kins of passengers of AirAsia flight QZ 8501 from Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore, at Changi Airport in Singapore December 28, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

1:56 pm

According to Djoko Atmojo, acting director general of transportation, Indonesia

At 6.12 am the plane made contact asking to ascend to 38,000 feet because of cloud.

At 6.16 am the plane was still on the radar.

At 6.18 am the plane went missing from the radar.

Last position of the plane was between Tanjung Pandan and Pontianak.

1:47 pm

When it went missing, the plane still had enough fuel for four hours flying time, Michael Bachelard, Fairfax Media's Indonesia correspondent, tweeted.

1:43 pm

Saddened to hear of missing flight QZ8501. My thoughts are with the passengers and their families, says Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

A flight information signboard shows the status of AirAsia flight QZ 8501 from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore at Changi Airport in Singapore December 28, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

1:39 pm