Briton on missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 identified as Chi-Man Choi
162 people were aboard the AirAsia flight that went missing this morning as it flew from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore.
Flight QZ8501 lost contact with air traffic control shortly after take-off, after requesting a “deviation” from the planned flight path dues to bad weather. The plane was an Airbus A320-200.
The airline initially released a statement listing the nationalities of the passengers as French, Malaysian, South Korean, Singaporean and Indonesian, but the UK Foreign Office has since confirmed that a British National was also present.
"We are aware of an incident regarding AirAsia flight QZ8501,” said an FCO spokesman.
"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."
The British Embassy in Jakarta has been working with local authorities to establish details, and has now identified the British national as Chi-Man Choi. His family has been informed, and it is thought that his two-year-old daughter was also on the plane with him.