Finally, AirAsia locates missing plane at Java Sea

AirAsia has confirmed that the missing plane QZ8501 has been found at the bottom of the Java Sea, searchers recovering bodies from the sea.  

In a statement released by AirAsia, the company disclosed that the debris found earlier on Tuesday was indeed from the AirAsia flight 8501 that went missing earlier on Sunday.

“AirAsia Indonesia regrets to inform that The National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia (BASARNAS) today confirmed that the debris found earlier today is indeed from QZ8501, the flight that had lost contact with air traffic control on the morning of 28th December 2014,” the statement read.

“The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC. There were 155 passengers on board, with 137 adults, 17 children and 1 infant. Also on board were 2 pilots, 4 cabin crews and one engineer.

“At the present time, search and rescue operations are still in progress and further investigation of the debris found at the location is still underway. AirAsia Indonesia employees have been sent to the site and will be fully cooperating with BASARNAS, National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC), and relevant authorities on the investigation.”

The location where the flight was found is said to be 16km from its last known location, before it lost contact with the air-traffic control.

Henry Bambang Soelistyo, the search and rescue chief, has said six bodies (three male and three female) have been recovered from the Java Sea, including a woman wearing a flight attendant’s uniform.

Sunu Widyatmoko, chief executive officer of AirAsia Indonesia, said the airline was sorry to be in the tragic situation. He expressed their sympathies to families of the deceased.

“We are sorry to be here today under these tragic circumstances,” he said.

“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.”

Tony Fernandes, group chief executive officer of AirAsia, expressed his devastation and the need to see to the wellbeing of families affected.

“I am absolutely devastated; this is a very difficult moment for all of us at AirAsia as we await further developments of the search and rescue operations, but our first priority now is the wellbeing of the family members of those onboard QZ8501.”

Earlier, the United States sent the USS Sampson destroyer to join at least 30 ships, 15 aircraft and seven helicopters in the search of the jet.

AirAsia Indonesia will be inviting family members to Surabaya, Indonesia, where a dedicated team of care providers will be assigned to each family to ensure that all of their needs are met.

Counsellors, religious and spiritual personnel have also been invited to the family centre to provide any necessary services.

AirAsia flies about 1,000 flights per day, and Fernandes has confirmed that the airline would continue with flights, as there is no need for any sweeping change yet.