Singapore: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today called Indonesian President Joko Widodo to express concern and pledged assistance of air force in the search of Air Asia plane which went missing after losing contact with air traffic controller.
The plane with 162 passengers and crew on board on a flight from Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore went missing over Java Sea this morning.
"Two RSAF C-130 search and locate aircrafts are on standby, ready to go. Our ministers are following up," said Lee.
Lee wrote on his Facebook, "Our thoughts are with the passengers and their families." Defence Minister Ng Eng Heng said he has also spoken to his Indonesian counterpart Ryamizard Ryacudu.
"Offered our thoughts and prayers for passengers and crew of Air Asia flight QZ8501," Eng Heng said.
"I told him that our SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) planes and ships were already on standby. If he needed their services or any other assistance, the SAF is ready to help," he added.
Defence Minister Ryamizard has thanked him for Singapore's concern, Ng Eng Heng said in a post on twitter.
Flight QZ8501 lost contact with Jakarta air traffic control just after 07:24am local time, a transport official told local media.
Contact with the plane was lost 42 minutes after takeoff. There were no Indian nationals on board.
The plane took off from Surabaya (Indonesia) at 5.20 am local time and was scheduled to land at Singapore's Changi Airport at 8.30 am.
The plane with 162 passengers and crew on board on a flight from Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore went missing over Java Sea this morning.
"Two RSAF C-130 search and locate aircrafts are on standby, ready to go. Our ministers are following up," said Lee.
"Offered our thoughts and prayers for passengers and crew of Air Asia flight QZ8501," Eng Heng said.
Advertisement
Defence Minister Ryamizard has thanked him for Singapore's concern, Ng Eng Heng said in a post on twitter.
Advertisement
Contact with the plane was lost 42 minutes after takeoff. There were no Indian nationals on board.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Indian-Origin Man Jailed For Helping Friend In Singapore Football Scam Smoke Seen On Singapore Airlines Plane During Landing In Japan, Runway Shut Singapore Envoy Spots Car With "Unusual Plate" Entering Delhi, Raises A Query Video: Woman Tries To Jump Off Mumbai's Atal Setu, Saved By Driver, Cops Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources Pak-Origin Man, Involved In 26/11 Attack, Extraditable To India: US Court Think Big Undergraduate Scholarship, Check Eligibility Criteria Mahindra Thar Roxx Review: Potential Compact SUV Challenger Cloudburst In Himachal Pradesh's Rampur, Road Washed Away Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.