Authorities lose contact with Sriwijaya Air Flight 182 over Indonesia

A Boeing 737 passenger jet with 62 people onboard is missing after losing contact with Indonesia’s aviation authorities shortly after take-off from Jakarta.

The Sriwijaya Air flight was carrying 53 passengers, including seven children and three babies, as well as nine pilots and crew, local media reported, Indonesia’s Transportation Minister, Budi Karya Sumadi, told a press conference.

Search and rescue teams were on their way to search for the plane on Saturday night after reports of debris and oil in the water off Jakarta.

Indonesian Transportation Ministry spokesperson Adita Irawati said the Boeing 737-500 took off from Jakarta at about 1.56pm (5.56pm AEDT) and lost contact with the control tower about four minutes later.

FlightRadar24 reported the aircraft lost more than 3000 metres in altitude in less than one minute at 2.40pm local time.