JAKARTA, March 8 -- The Indonesian government has ordered its embassies in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing to take every step necessary to tackle issues related to the missing of a Malaysian Airlines flight, a statement issued by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Saturday evening.

President had been informed of the matter and the ministry is expecting further directions from the presidential office regarding the mishap,the statement said.

Without disclosing the names, Indonesian authorities reported that seven citizens were onboard Malaysian Airlines that went missing early Saturday during its flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

"The Foreign Affairs Ministry conveyed deepest sympathy to families of seven passengers, and expected that both the plane and the passengers can be discovered safely," the statement said.

The ministry promised to immediately update families of the Indonesian victims of the latest development in handling of the plane mishap. They were also encouraged to directly contacts officers in charge in Indonesia's embassies in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing by providing contacts numbers of them.

China, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia have sent rescue teams to search for the missing aircraft in waters between Malaysia and Vietnam, the area where the plane lost contact with air control.

The ill-fated plane carried 227 passengers and 12 crew members from 13 countries.