This Article is From Dec 28, 2014

Britain Confirms One of Its Nationals on Missing AirAsia Jet

Britain Confirms One of Its Nationals on Missing AirAsia Jet

A Changi Airport staff holds up a sign to direct possible next-of-kins of passengers of AirAsia flight QZ 8501 from Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore, at Changi Airport in Singapore December 28, 2014. )

London: A British national was on board the AirAsia plane carrying 162 people that went missing in bad weather on Sunday en route from Indonesia to Singapore, the Foreign Office confirmed.

"We are aware of an incident regarding Air Asia flight QZ8501," said a statement from the ministry.

"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."

Air traffic controllers lost contact with the Airbus A320-200 around an hour after it left Juanda international airport at Surabaya in east Java, at 5:20am (2220 GMT Saturday).

Shortly before disappearing, the plane asked permission from Jakarta air traffic control to deviate from its flight plan and climb above bad weather in an area noted for severe thunderstorms.
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