The search for the missing AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501 has been called off for the day and is expected to resume in the morning as soon as it is light.

The search for the missing AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501, which went missing on Sunday morning after communication was lost, has been called off for the day and is expected to resume in the morning as soon as it is light.

An AirAsia statement confirmed there are 155 passengers on board the plane; 137 adults, 17 children and one infant on board the plane. Also on board are two pilots and five crew members.

The captain has a total of 20,537 flying hours experience, the first officer has 2,275 flying hours, it said.

Most of those on board - 155 - are from Indonesia, three from South Korea, and one each from the UK, Malaysia, France and Singapore.

Sunu Widyatmoko, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia said, “We are deeply shocked and saddened by this incident. We are cooperating with the relevant authorities to the fullest extent to determine the cause of this incident. In the meantime, our main priority is keeping the families of our passengers and colleagues informed on the latest developments.”

“We will do everything possible to support them as the investigation continues and have already mobilized a support team to help take care of their immediate needs, including accommodation and travel arrangements. A briefing center has also been set up in Surabaya for the families.”

For the families in Singapore, there is an emergency briefing room at Changi International Airport Terminal Two, where AirAsia Indonesia are providing regular updates.

This is the third time a Malaysia-based airline has lost a plane this year.

The country’s national carrier Malaysia Airlines lost contact with flight MH370 over the Indian Ocean in March. In July, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine.