Rescue workers recover a child's body found floating in the sea after Lion Air flight JT 610 crashed off the island near the coast of Indonesia this morning.

The Boeing 737 Max 8 plane was carrying 189 people including crew and passengers when it lost contact with air traffic control at 6:30am local time shortly after take off from Jakarta.

The plane was flying from the capital to the city of Pangkal Pinang at 1,113 metres above sea level.

Pilots requested to return to base shortly before losing contact off the coast of Karawang regency, said Yohanes Sirait, a spokesman for the country's air navigation authorities.

Muhammad Syaugi, head of the search-and-rescue agency, said wreckage had been found near where the aircraft lost contact.