Seven Foreigners Aboard Missing AirAsia Plane

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - AirAsia Indonesia said seven foreigners were among passengers of missing AirAsia plane flight QZ 8501 traveling from Surabaya, East Java Province, to Singapore, Sunday morning. "In total, there are seven foreign citizens. However, we have to wait for further confirmation regarding their names," AirAsia Indonesia's Communication officer Malinda Yasmin said in a press statement, here, Sunday. The foreign nationals consist of three Koreans, a Singaporean, a British, a Malaysian and a First Officer (FO) from France. "While, 155 others including crew members are Indonesian nationals," she said. The aircraft's pilot, Captain Iriyanto has a total of 20,537 flight hours and 6,053 flight hours with AirAsia Indonesia. The FO has 2,247 flight hours. "The plane has 155 passengers aboard, comprising 137 adults, 17 children, and one infant. There are also two pilots, four cabin crew members, and one technician," he said. Search and rescue operations are currently underway under the coordination of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and the transportation ministry. She said the aircraft was flight worthy and had undergone the latest maintenance on November 16, 2014. AirAsia has set up a hotline on 622129270811 to help families and relatives of the passengers receive latest updates. In the meantime, European aircraft maker Airbus said it is ready to help in the investigation of Airbus A320 aircraft of AirAsia Indonesia missing during en route from Surabaya to Singapore on Sunday. The aircraft, taking off at 05.36 local time from Surabaya to arrive in Singapore at around 08.30 is missing with 155 passengers and 7 crewmen including two pilots on board. Senior Consultant of Airbus Ameer Brontoari said in a statement in line with an international agreement ICAO Annex 13, Airbus would provide full assistance in the investigations. "Airbus hereby confirms that A320-200 operated by AirAsia Indonesia has been missing and the air traffic control (ATC) lost contact with it this morning. The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Surabaya to Singapore," the statement said. (*)