'This is my worst nightmare': AirAsia boss admits his airline has 'no idea' how flight carrying 162 people disappeared as it emerges pilot wanted to climb higher to avoid storm before losing contact

AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes (bottom left) admitted he had no idea why the plane lost contact with air traffic control with 155 passengers and seven crew members on board, while travelling from Indonesia to Singapore on Sunday. 'We have no idea at the moment what went wrong,' said Mr Fernandes, who founded the regional low-cost carrier in 2001. The
massive search and rescue operation for the missing AirAsia flight which lost contact with air traffic control after flying through bad weather has been halted until first light. AirAsia flight QZ8501 departed Indonesia for Singapore at 5.30am local time, and lost contact after 42 minutes. Fishing boats and official vessels were sent out from the closest port to where the aircraft was last recorded, while Navy helicopters and rescue workers also scoured the Java Sea for evidence of the plane. Devastated friends and family of those onboard the flight have gathered at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya to await news of the plane. The pilot of the plane has been named as Captain Iriyanto (top right), while the co-pilot is believed to be Frenchman Remi Emmanual Plesel. The pilot asked air traffic control for permission to climb to 39000 feet to avoid a storm before the aircraft dropped off the radar