Search halted for missing plane

The search for an AirAsia plane that disappeared in bad weather after leaving Indonesia will resume in the morning, authorities say.

Rescuers scouring the Java Sea for a missing AirAsia plane with 162 aboard have halted their search at nightfall, Indonesia's transport ministry says.

"We ended at 5.30 pm because it was getting dark. The weather was also not too good as it was getting really cloudy," transport ministry official Hadi Mustofa said.

"Tomorrow we will begin at 7 am, or even earlier than that if the weather is good," he added.