KUALA LUMPUR: The Foreign Ministry has opened a 24-hour operations room in view of the missing Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501.
In a statement, the ministry said the 24-hour operations centre can be contacted at +603-88874570 and +603-88892746.
The Indonesia AirAsia aircraft, an Airbus A320-200, reportedly lost contact with the Indonesian air traffic control centre at 7.24am, local time, while on its way to Singapore from Surabaya.
The statement added that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman spoke to his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi on the missing flight QZ8501.
“The Foreign Minister extended his sadness and prayers to the families and missing crew and passengers of flight QZ8501,” said the statement.
Anifah also conveyed Malaysia’s readiness to assist in the search and rescue operations conducted by the Indonesian authorities.
The Ministry through its missions in Indonesia will continue to monitor the situation.
Based on the flight manifest, one Malaysian was onboard the flight which was reported missing with 162 passengers and crew members.-- BERNAMA