A Briton is on board an AirAsia plane which has gone missing on its way from Indonesia to Singapore, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

The British person is one of more than 150 people on flight QZ8501, Trikora Raharjo, the general manager of Surabaya’s Juanda airport, told The Associated Press.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of an incident regarding AirAsia flight QZ8501.

“Our thoughts are with the passengers’ families as they await further news.

“We have been informed by the local authorities that one British national was on board. Their next of kin has been informed, and we stand ready to provide consular assistance.”

The Airbus A320-200 lost contact with air traffic control at 7.24am local time (00.24 GMT), the company said, having taken off 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.

AirAsia’s chief executive is Tony Fernandes, who also owns Premier League football team Queens Park Rangers.

He tweeted: “Thank you for all your thoughts and prays. we must stay strong.”

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).”

The airline said family or friends of those who may have been on the aircraft can phone their emergency call centre on 00 622129850801.