Fears grow for AirAsia flight carrying 162 people - including 17 children - after it goes missing in storm off coast of Indonesia... as desperate rescue mission is halted despite reports of wreckage

The massive search and rescue operation for the missing Air Asia flight bound for Singapore from Indonesia (bottom left) which lost contact with air traffic control after flying through bad weather has been halted until tomorrow due to fading light. Air Asia flight QZ8501 (middle inset) departed Indonesia for Singapore at 5.30am local time, and lost contact 42 minutes into the flight after requesting to ascend to a higher altitude due to bad weather (top left shows thunderstorms over the area at the time of its disappearance). Fishing boats and official vessels were sent out from the closest port to where the aircraft was last recorded, while Navy helicopters (top right) and rescue workers (bottom right) also scoured the Java Sea for evidence of the plane. Friends and family of those onboard the flight have gathered at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya (centre) to await news of the plane.