Air Asia says it's now focusing on a recovery operation after wreckage of its missing plane was found.
The aircraft was thought to have been hit by bad weather as it travelled from Indonesia to Singapore on Sunday.
Bodies have been found a few miles from the jet's last known co-ordinates in the Java Sea.
President Joko Widodo told relatives he prayed "for your strength in facing this tragedy" and said finding all of the passenger's bodies would be a priority.
Air Asia Chief Executive Tony Fernandes has also offered his prayers following the crash.
"Be strong," he told his staff in a Twitter message. "Continue to be the best. Pray hard."
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed that one of the passengers was Briton Choi Chi Man.
AirAsia's chief executive Sunu Widyatmoko said: "We are sorry to be here today under these tragic circumstances. We would like to extend our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of those on board QZ8501.
"Our sympathies also go out to the families of our dear colleagues."
When the TV showed pictured of the rescue work some family members in a waiting room at Surabaya airport screamed and wailed uncontrollably.
Many broke down in tears whilst others prayed silently.