An AirAsia flight with about 160 people on board en route from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore lost contact with air traffic control earlier in the day.
JAKARTA, December 28 (Sputnik) AirAsia flight QZ 8501 has crashed intowater afterexperiencing severe turbulence and trying tochange the course, Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency said Sunday.
"AirAsia Airbus A320, flight QZ 8501, flying fromSurabaya [Indonesia] toSingapore fell intowater nearBelitung island [Indonesia]," Republika newspaper quoted the agency's representative assaying.According tothe statement issued byAirAsia, flight QZ8501 has lost contact withair traffic control at07:24 local time (00:24 GMT). There were 155 passengers onboard, including 17 children, two pilots and five cabin crew.
Search and rescue operations are underway underthe guidance ofThe Indonesia ofCivil Aviation Authority (CAA). AirAsia Indonesia is assisting the investigation.