Debris spotted today during an aerial search for AirAsia flight QZ8501 is from the missing plane, Indonesia's director general of civil aviation said. An AFP photographer on the search plane that spotted the debris said he had seen objects in the sea resembling a life raft, life jackets and long orange tubes as they flew just 500 feet (150 metres) above the water.
More than 40 bodies retrieved in AirAsia search, says Indonesian navy: Agence France-Presse
Families of the missing AirAsia passengers reacting to news reports of debris and bodies being found in the sea off Indonesia (AFP photo)
"God blessed us today," Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency chief Bambang Soelistyo told reporters at a press conference. "At 12:50 the air force Hercules found an object described as a shadow at the bottom of the sea in the form of a plane," he said.
Al Jazeera quoted officials from the presser saying that the exit door of the plane has been found along with visuals of a shadow under the sea which they say could be the missing plane
Below, a family member of a missing AirAsia passenger breaks down at the presser (AFP photo)
"The body seemed bloated," said First Lieutenant Tri Wibowo who was on board a Herculesaircraft during the search operation, reported the Kompas.com website.
Indonesian Air Force crew members take part in the search and rescue operation at the site
(AFP photo)
Indonesian officials tell local TV 'victims' spotted near site where AirAsia plane disappeared: Associated Press
Singapore PM Expresses Concern Over Missing AirAsia PlaneSingapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today called Indonesian President Joko Widodo to express concern and pledged assistance of air force in the search of Air Asia plane which went missing after losing contact with air traffic controller.
Missing AirAsia Flight: India Puts 3 Ships, Plane on StandbyIndia has put on standby three ships and a maritime surveillance aircraft for assistance in the search operation after an AirAsia flight with 162 people on board today went missing en route from Indonesia to Singapore after losing contact with air traffic controllers.
Emergency Call Centre Number: 006-22129850801
Sources have told NDTV that:- The Indian Navy is on standby for deployment
- Government orders are awaited.
- One offshore patrol vessel has sailed from Chennai towards Port Blair.
- Two ships are on standby in Andaman Sea
- One P8 is on standby in Tamil Nadu
Relatives of the passengers of AirAsia flight QZ8501 comfort each other at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. (Associated Press)
Onboard are 155 passengers, two pilots and five crew members. Of the 155 passengers, 16 are children and one an infant
A Changi Airport staff holds up a sign to direct possible next-of-kins of passengers of AirAsia flight from Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore, at Changi Airport in Singapore. (Reuters)
A sign informing the next-of-kins of passengers of AirAsia flight from Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore is seen next to an information counter at Changi Airport. (Reuters)
Missing AirAsia flight: the plane asked for an unusual route before it lost contact, say reports
Air Asia flight from Indonesia's Surabaya to Singapore loses contact with air traffic control, says airline: Agence France-Presse