Jakarta/Singapore: An AirAsia Airbus with 162 people on board disappeared on Sunday morning amid thunderstorms while on way from Indonesia to Singapore, prompting the military to launch a major search that was called off at dusk.
The aircraft took off at 5.20 am (local time) from the Indonesian city of Surabaya and was to land at Singapore’s Changi Airport at 8.30 am, the airline owned by an Indian-origin Malaysian and officials said.
Indonesian officials said the pilot sought an unusual route due to thunderstorms between Kalimantan and Belitung island, before the aircraft lost contact with the air traffic control.
The aircraft was then at 32,000 feet over Java Sea.
The plane carried 162 passengers and crew including 138 adults, 16 children, an infant, two pilots and five cabin crew. (IANS)