Extreme weather conditions was the “triggering factor” in the crash of AirAsia flight QZ8501, with icing of the engines the most likely cause, according to a new report.

A preliminary report by Indonesia’s meteorological bureau BMKG said it appeared the doomed plane carrying 162 people was flying in storm clouds when it crashed.

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“Based on the available data received on the location of the aircraft’s last contact, the weather was the triggering factor behind the accident,” the report said.

“The most probable weather phenomenon was icing which can cause engine damage due to a cooling process. This is just one of the possibilities that occurred based on the analysis of existing meteorological data.”

Analysis of weather data suggests the flight, which crashed in the Java Sea, would have encountered “worrying” conditions, including cloud temperatures of minus 80 degrees celsius.

“These icy conditions can stall the engines of the plane and freeze and damage the planes machinery,” said Edvin Aldrian, BMKG head of research.

Waves of up to five metres have hampered the efforts of teams of divers to recover the plane’s black box recorder.