BEIJING, Dec. 28 -- China's Foreign Ministry said it is closely monitoring developments in missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 on Sunday.

China is deeply worried about the safety of the passengers and crew and offers condolences to their families, Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement.

An AirAsia passenger plane with 162 people on board lost contact with ground control Sunday after departing from Surabaya in Indonesia on its way to Singapore.

No Chinese citizens have been found aboard the plane, according to Hua.

China will continue to closely monitor developments of the missing flight, she said.