Missing AirAsia plane: As it happened on Sunday

• Our hearts and hopes are with the passengers and families of AirAsia QZ8501, says US Secretary of State.

  Our hearts and hopes are with the passengers and families of AirAsia QZ8501. — John Kerry (@JohnKerry) December 28, 2014

• Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar says that India was ready to help but it has to be a coordinated international team and has to be coordinated effort. He also says that India has to be part of international team and there were mechanisms for such things.

• Malaysian PM says that he "called President Joko Widodo and expressed deep concern." Offered Malaysia's fullest support and assistance to Indonesian search and rescue effort," he adds.

  Called President Joko Widodo. Expressed our deep concern. Offered M'sia's fullest support & assistance to Indonesian search & rescue effort. — Mohd Najib Tun Razak (@NajibRazak) December 28, 2014

• AirAsia today changed its bright red logo to grey on its Twitter and Facebook pages, after its aircraft with 162 on board went missing en route from Indonesia to Singapore.

• Airbus has announced full support to the probe into the disappearance of the AirAsia flight QZ8501. Airbus announced its support in a press release Sunday and said it would provide full assistance to the authorities in charge of the investigation, in line with Annex 13 of an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) convention, according to Xinhua.

• The AirAsia aircraft that went missing on Sunday on its way to Singapore from Surabaya in Indonesia was delivered to its operator in 2008 and had recorded 23,000 flight hours on 13,600 flights, European aircraft manufacturing consortium Airbus said in a statement, as per Reuters.

• Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop offered to help Indonesia in the search and rescue mission for the Malaysian plane missing since early morning. Bishop said she made "personal contact" with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi since the AirAsia flight QZ 8501 vanished between Indonesia and its destination Singapore, the Canberra Times reported.

• Rescuers Sunday evening suspended for the day their search for an AirAsia plane with 162 aboard that went missing early in the morning, Indonesia's transport ministry said. The search will resume Monday, as per IANS.
• Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai has denied reports that the missing AirAsia plane has crashed in Belintung and its wreckage has been found. "There is plenty of speculation that they have found the plane. At this point in time (5 pm) that is not true. We are still looking for the plane," Liow was quoted as saying by the Star Online, the PTI reported.
• AirAsia issued an updated statement about the nationality of the crew and passengers. The passengers includes 1 Singapore, 1 Malaysia, 3 South Korea, 1 United Kingdom and 149 from Indonesia. The crew includes one from France and six from Indonesia.

  [Updated statement] QZ8501 as at 6:54pm (GMT+8) http://t.co/5QBdOXGiwe — AirAsia (@AirAsia) December 28, 2014

• India has put three ships and a maritime surveillance aircraft on standby for assistance in the search operation. While one ship is in Bay of Bengal, another two are on standby in Andaman Sea. Along with these, a P-8I aircraft has also been put on standby. The aircraft is used for maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare operations, as per PTI.
• A British national was on board the AirAsia plane carrying 162 people that went missing in bad weather Sunday en route from Indonesia to Singapore, the Foreign Office confirmed. "We are aware of an incident regarding Air Asia flight QZ 8501. We have been informed by the local authorities that one British national was on board. Their next of kin has been informed, and we stand ready to provide consular assistance," the UK Foreign Office confirmed in a statement, the AFP reported.
• An Indonesian website has reportedly expressed the possibility that the AirAsia plane had crashed in the waters off East Belitung. However, it further quoted The Bangka Pos news portal which has said that there was no confirmation of the crash site. Meanwhile, no such official confirmation has been made by the authorities so far.
• AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes tweeted that he is on his way to Surabaya in Indonesia and will give out more information as they get it .

  On my way to Surabaya where most of the passangers are from as with my Indonesian management. Providing information as we get it. — Tony Fernandes (@tonyfernandes) December 28, 2014

• In the wake of the missing plane, AirAsia has changed the colour of its logo from red to grey on Twitter.
• Indian Navy has kept three ships and one fixed-wing aircraft (Boeing P8-1) on standby to assist the search and rescue operations, according to ANI.
• Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak said that the country is ready to help in this time of crisis. 

Very sad to hear that AirAsia Indonesia QZ8501 is missing. My thoughts are with the families. Malaysia stands ready to help. — Mohd Najib Tun Razak (@NajibRazak) December 28, 2014

• Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong took to Twitter to speak about the incident. He tweeted, “Saddened to hear of missing flight #QZ8501. My thoughts are with the passengers and their families. - LHL.”

Saddened to hear of missing flight #QZ8501. My thoughts are with the passengers and their families. - LHL

— Lee Hsien Loong (@leehsienloong) December 28, 2014

• US President Barack Obama has been briefed about the situation and the White House has said that it was monitoring the situation.
• The pilot of the AirAsia flight QZ8501 had reportedly requested for deviation in usual travel route before the plane lost all contact and went missing. The aircraft was flying at 32,000 feet and had asked to fly at 38,000 feet to avoid clouds, according to Reuters news report
• The AirAsia statement further said that the pilot had a total of 6,100 flying hours and the first officer a total of 2,275 flying hours.
• An updated statement issued by AirAsia on Facebook states - “The aircraft was on the submitted flight plan route and was requesting deviation due to enroute weather before communication with the aircraft was lost while it was still under the control of the Indonesian Air Traffic Control (ATC).”

Updated statement: QZ8501 http://t.co/sJ008zEgUm — AirAsia (@AirAsia) December 28, 2014

• An emergency call centre has been set up by the airline and friends and family of the passengers and crew can contact on +622129850801 for further information.
• Meanwhile, Malaysia also offered help in the search of missing AirAsia flight which lost contact with air traffic controllers between Kalimantan and Belitung island.
• Singapore said on Sunday it has activated its Air Force and Navy to help in the search and rescue operation for the AirAsia jet that went missing on a flight from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore, the AFP reported.
• A Facebook post by the airline further stated that at present they have “no further information regarding the status of the passengers and crew members on board.”
• A tweet by AirAsia has confirmed that the flight went missing today morning.

  AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact at 07:24hrs this morning http://t.co/WomRQuzcPO

  — AirAsia (@AirAsia) December 28, 2014

• The AirAsia flight had 162 people including passengers and crew members when it went missing. Out of these, 149 are Indonesians, three Koreans, one Singaporean, one Briton and one Malaysian on board. The passengeres also included 138 adults, 16 children and one infant. 

AirAsia flight QZ8501, carrying 162 people on board, went missing after it lost contact while travelling from Indonesia's Surabaya to Singapore on Sunday morning.

The Airbus A320-200, which lost contact at around 7:24 am local time today morning, was scheduled to arrive at Singapore at 8:30 am.