MOSCOW, December 28 (Sputnik) — Search and rescue operations were launched for the flight from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore which had lost contact with air traffic control, Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia said Sunday.
I am touched by the massive show of support especially from my fellow airlines. This is my worse nightmare. But there is no stopping.
— Tony Fernandes (@tonyfernandes) 28 декабря 2014
Earlier the same day, Indonesian Transport Ministry official Hadi Mustofa was quoted as saying by media that flight QZ 8501 with 155 people on board, including one British citizen, one citizen of Singapore, one — of Malaysia, three Koreans and 149 Indonesians, took off Sunday morning and lost contact with the traffic control in the airspace of Indonesia.
The official added that the flight lost contact between Kalimantan and Belitung island in an hour after the plane's takeoff.
