Highlighting the depth of Indonesia’s air safety problems, the transportation ministry announced harsh measures yesterday against everyone who allowed AirAsia Flight 8501 to take off without proper permits — including the suspension of the airport’s operator and officials in the control tower.

Indonesia’s transportation ministry has announced harsh measures against everyone who allowed AirAsia Flight 8501 to take off without proper permits - including the suspension of the airport’s operator and officials in the control tower.

Objects have been spotted in the sea by a search plane hunting for a missing AirAsia jet, an Indonesian official has said.

An AirAsia plane with 162 people on board lost contact with ground control while flying over the Java Sea after taking off from a provincial city in Indonesia for Singapore.