Undated file photo shows AirAsia aircraft on the tarmac of an airport. AirAsia said on Dec. 28, 2014 in a statement that its flight QZ8501 from Surabaya of Indonesia to Singapore had lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24 in the morning (2324 Dec. 27 GMT). The A320-200 had 155 people. (Xinhua)

JAKARTA, Dec. 28 -- An AirAsia jetliner lost contact with ground control on Sunday after takeoff from Indonesia on the way to Singapore, and authorities had launched a search and rescue operation.

The QZ8501 flight lost communication 42 minutes after taking off at 5:35 a.m. in Surabaya airport, staff at Indonesia's National rescue agency told Xinhua in a phone interview. The plane is scheduled to land in Singapore at 8:30 a.m. local time.

A total of 155 people are onboard the plane, including 149 Indonesians,three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one British and one Malaysian, local media quoted Indonesian Transportation Ministry as saying.

However, other media reports put the number of people onboard at 161.

The missing plane was an Airbus A320-200, aviation officials said.

Indonesian military is deploying forces to search for the plane, after alleged report of plane crashing in the sea between Java and Kalimantan, military sources said.

Meanwhile, AirAsia said in a statement that the search and rescue operations were in progress and promised to "keep all parties informed as more information becomes available."

Related:

AirAsia confirms flight QZ8501 lost contact

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- AirAsia said Sunday in a statement that it confirmed flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore had lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24 this morning.

It said that there was no further information regarding the status of the passengers and crew members on board. The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC, it added.   Full story