Search and rescue crews looking for a missing AirAsia plane have suspended air operations due to poor weather.
The Airbus A320-200 lost contact with air traffic control at 7.24am local time having taken off from Surabaya in Indonesia bound for Singapore almost two hours earlier.
The airline said 155 passengers, including 16 children and one infant, and seven crew, including two pilots, four flight attendants and one engineer, were on the flight.
The pilot had asked to divert the flight due to safety fears amid stormy conditions, moments before it lost contact with air traffic control.
AirAsia's chief executive Tony Fernandes, who also owns English Premier League football team Queens Park Rangers, has flown to Indonesia to help with the search.
He said: "This is my worse nightmare. My only thoughts are with the passengers and my crew.
"We put our hope in the SAR (search and rescue) operation and thank the Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysian governments."
He said he was "touched by the massive show of support" especially from fellow airlines.
He tweeted: "Thank you for all your thoughts and prays. we must stay strong."
It is the third incident involving Malaysia this year - in March, Flight 370 disappeared with 239 people and in July Flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on it.
AirAsia said in a statement on its Facebook page: "At this time, search and rescue operations are being conducted under the guidance of The Indonesia of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). AirAsia Indonesia is co-operating fully and assisting the investigation in every possible way.
"The aircraft was on the submitted flight plan route and was requesting deviation due to enroute weather before communication with the aircraft was lost while it was still under the control of the Indonesian Air Traffic Control (ATC)."
Aviation expert David Learmount said there was slim chance of finding survivors on board the short-haul flight.
He said: " We can speculate ad infinitum when the only thing we can go on is that it is missing.
"But I think the prognosis is not good."
The air search was halted at 5.30pm local time due to poor visibility and is expected to resume in the morning. Some ships are continuing the search overnight.