29 December 2014. AirAsia Airbus A320-200 flight number QZ8501 disappeared from the Jakarta Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar at 6.18 am local time, just after 43 minutes departed from Surabaya headed to Singapore.
The aircraft carried about 155 passengers, including 7 crew. The AirAsia QZ8501 should be landing at Changi International Airport at 8.30 am local time, there is two hours time difference between Singapore and Surabaya.
AirAsia Airbus A320-200 While Approaching Before Landing
Indonesian Ministry in official statement said that the A320-200 QZ8501 followed flight path and contacted the ATC in Jakarta at 6.12 am local time, they reported the aircraft was at 32,000 ft altitude.
The pilot requested permission to climb to the 38,000 ft altitude in order avoiding clouds.
The aircraft was still in radar at 6.16 am, suddenly in a minute later, the aircraft could only be identified via automated dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B). While at 6.18 am the aircraft loss from the radar.
Whilst AirAsia announced that the A320-200 QZ8501 lost contact with ATC at 7.24 am Singapore time.
Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency have been deployed assisted by Boeing 737 Surveillance aircraft from Indonesian Air Force. The last coordinates known of the A320-200 QZ8501 is about south west of west Kalimantan and Belitung island.
The Airbus A320-200 known as the most popular narrowbody aircraft in the world. The aircraft has been sold for more than 4,000 according to the database worldwide. Airbus has launched the improve variant of the A320, the A320NEO offers better fuel efficiency and longer range of flight.