KUALA LUMPUR: Airbus will provide full assistance to the French safety investigation authority (BEA) and authorities in charge of the investigation surrounding missing AirAsia flight QZ8501.
In a statement released today, the manufacturer of the aircraft, an A320-200, said the aircraft was delivered to AirAsia six years ago.
"The aircraft involved is MSN (Manufacturer Serial Number) 3648, registered as PK-AXC and was delivered from the production line in October 2008.
Powered by CFM 56-5B engines, the aircraft had accumulated approximately 23,000 flight hours in some 13,600 flight," the statement read.
Airbus also said the aircraft in question was a twin-engine single aisle aircraft that could seat up to 180 passengers in a single-class configuration.
"The first A320 entered service in March 1988. By the end of November 2014, over 6,000 A320 Family aircraft were in service with over 300 operators.
"To date, the entire fleet has accumulated some 154 million flight hours in some 85 million flights,"
The French-based aircraft manufacture added that further factual information would be made available as soon as details had been confirmed and cleared by authorities.
"The thoughts of the Airbus management and staff are with those affected by flight QZ8501," the statement read.
BEA, who is the French authority responsible for carrying out safety investigations relating to accidents in civil aviation, is expected to participate in the investigation of QZ8501 as the representative of manufacturer, Airbus.
AirAsia flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore lost contact with air traffic control at 7.24am this morning.