INDONESIA (WTXL/ABC) -- On the evening of December 27th, an AirAsia jet that had lost contact with air traffic control while flying from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore.
AirAsia Flight QZ8501 lost contact with Indonesia at 6:17 am Surabaya time (6:17 pm ET). The pilot's last contact with Indonesia regarded a changing the flight plan because of the weather.
At the time, infrared satellite of the region showed strong thunderstorms in the vicinity of the plane. Downdrafts, headwinds, and updrafts all could have affected the plane enough for the pilot to request the change.
This is normal weather for this time of year in the region due to the Monsoon Season. Moist air from the South China Sea flows in and helps to produce heavy thunderstorms all across the island nation and surrounding countries.
For now, weather causing the plane to lose contact is speculation.
