AirAsia statement:
AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24hrs this morning.
At the present time we unfortunately have no further information regarding the status of the passengers and crew members on board, but we will keep all parties informed as more information becomes available.
The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC.
At this time, search and rescue operations are in progress and AirAsia is cooperating fully and assisting the rescue service.
Seems unlikely this loss of contact is a temporary event due to weather, etc., since it's well past 7:24am local time at this point on that side of the world.
Hopefully the plane will be found safe and sound at some diversion airport.
Appears from some initial pictures appearing on twitter that the area they were flying through had some very severe weather at the time which would explain the request for an unusual route