Wisma Putra: No Malaysians on board crashed Lion Air flight

PETALING JAYA: There were no Malaysians on board the fatal Lion Air Flight JT-610 which crashed in Karawang waters early Monday (Oct 29), says the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Wisma Putra said that the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta has been in contact with local authorities to find out information about victims involved in the incident.

"So far, no Malaysians have been reported to be involved with the incident. The embassy will continue to keep in contact with the local authorities for the latest updates," it said in a statement.

The ministry said that Malaysians in Indonesia who need assistance from the embassy, or further details of the incident can contact the embassy via email [e-mail]/[e-mail] or call [phone].

The Boeing 737-800, which carried 188 passengers, including two infants and seven crewmembers, was on route from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang in Bangka Belitung.

The flight left the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at about 6.20am (Indonesia time) and crashed about 15 minutes after take-off.

Search and rescue effort are being carried out.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

"I am sad and surprised to receive the news about aircraft Lion Air JT610 which crashed in the Karawang waters this morning. I express my condolences to the family members of the victims involved in the tragedy," he wrote on his Twitter account.

AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes also send his condolences to the relatives of the victims, as well as ‏to Lion Air.

"Woken up to more bad news. My thought to those on LionAir JT 610 and their families. Thoughts also to the management and staff of Lion air. #standingtogether," he tweeted.