Rozanna Latiff and Koi Kye Lee
KUALA LIPIS: Malaysia has vowed to assist in the investigation into the disappearance of AirAsia flight QZ8501, which lost contact with air traffic controllers between Singapore and Surabaya, Indonesia this morning.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak said he had not been fully briefed on the aircraft's disappearance, but acknowledged that the country may be facing its third aviation disaster in the year, after the loss of two Malaysia Airlines aircraft in March and July.
"I don't have much detail yet on what happened, but there is a very big possibility that a tragedy has occurred.
"We will do all we can to help find out what happened," he told reporters after visiting flood victims at the SMK Padang Tengku relief shelter here.
The Airbus A320-200, carrying 155 passengers and crew, was on its way to Singapore from Surabaya when it lost contact with air traffic control at 7.24am.