The Associated Press reports that while the air search has been suspended for the night, some boats are still looking for any sign of the plane.

It's confirmed now that, around 11 hours after last contact with flight QZ 8501, Indonesia's air search has been suspended for the night because of poor visibility and bad weather. There is still no confirmation of what happened to the plane. The pilot had asked to change course to avoid storms but made no distress call.

British Embassy in Jakarta

says: "We are aware of an incident QZ 8501. Our thoughts are with the passengers' families as they await further news. We have been informed by the local authorities that one British national was on board. Their next of kin have been informed. We are working closely with the local authorities in Singapore who are providing assistance to the family."

Kabir Dhaliwal emailed

"This is really tragic. I'm Malaysian, and this is really affecting everyone here. The floods on the east coast of the peninsula and this airplane have been trending on all the major social networks. Our hopes and prayers are with everyone on board and with their families."

Liow Tiong Lai
Malaysian Transport Minister

tells journalists at a press conference: "As of now, at this time, there are lots speculations saying they found the plane. As of this time it's not true. At this time, we're still searching for the plane."

What is the story of AirAsia, and how does its Indonesian subsidiary differ from the parent company? Joe Miller from BBC Business has compiled a profile of the company.

Image source, Getty Images

This map shows the projected flight path of AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501, and the highlighted area where the plane is thought to have lost contact.

Hadi Mustofa
Indonesia Transport Ministry official

tells AFP: "We ended at 1730 (1030 GMT) because it was getting dark. The weather was also not too good as it was getting really cloudy."

"Tomorrow we will begin at 7 am, or even earlier than that if the weather is good," he added.

The search for missing AirAsia flight QZ 8501 has been suspended for the night, Indonesian officials say.

Liow Tiong Lai
Malaysian Transport Minister

tweets, external: Malaysia deployed 3 vessels & 3 aircraft to assist Indonesian-led search ops for #QZ8501, external

Image source, Malaysia Transport Ministry

Tony Fernandes
AirAsia CEO and founder

tweets the following: "I am touched by the massive show of support especially from my fellow airlines. This is my worse nightmare, external. But there is no stopping."

"To all my staff Airasia all stars be strong, external, continue to be the best. Pray hard. Continue to do your best for all our guests. See u all soon"

Changi Airport Group, which run Singapore's main airport, has released a statement on missing flight QZ 8501:

"As of this update, 47 relatives and friends of 57 passengers on board Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501 have registered at Singapore Changi Airport's Relatives' Holding Area (RHA) at Terminal 2.

Help and support are being provided to them at the RHA by 36 Changi Airport Group (CAG) care officers and four counsellors from the Ministry of Social and Family Development. Other staff from CAG, AirAsia and airport partners, as well as officials from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore, have also been present to assist.

Arrangements for local accommodation or for travel to Indonesia have been made for the next-of-kin. The thoughts and concerns of CAG and the Changi Airport community are with the passengers of QZ8501, their families and friends."

AirAsia Indonesia issues a correction on its Facebook page, external about the nationalities of passengers and crew on board the missing flight QZ8501:

Nationalities of passengers:

1 Singaporean

1 Malaysian

3 South Koreans

1 Briton

149 Indonesians

Nationalities of crew:

1 French

6 Indonesians

Tony Abbott
Australian Prime Minister

tweets, external: I've spoken to President Widodo tonight to convey Australia's sadness at the #AirAsia #QZ8501 tragedy and offered all we can to assist

Anna Jones, BBC News, Indonesia

The seas here on the straits are rough but nothing exceptional. But it could be much worse further out in the less-sheltered Java sea. It's getting dark in this area and is still raining, making it very hard to spot something in these conditions.

Image source, EPA

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has reached out to Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, offering a P3 Orion aircraft, external to help search for the missing AirAsia plane, ABC News reports.

The picture shows a satellite image of the weather over Indonesia's airspace at the time the plane went missing:

BBC Weather's Darren Bett says it is not unusual at this time of year for there to be strong thundercloud formations in the area where the plane went missing. The satellite image shows deep convection in the area with cloud to 50,000ft.

Anna Jones, BBC News, Indonesia

There have been heavy storms with lightning and very heavy rain all weekend in the seas between Sumatra and Singapore. There is also a lightning storm going on now over the straits.

The BBC's Alice Budisatrijo in Surabaya sent us these pictures from the crisis centre in Surabaya's Juanda Airport.

Image source, EPA

Another AirAsia flight, travelling from Penang to Langkawi, turns back with technical difficulties, reports the New Straits Times, external newspaper in Malaysia.