AirAsia Aircraft Wreckage Found
The airline announced Dec. 30 that The National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia has confirmed debris found floating in the Karimata Strait is from flight QZ8501.
Two days after AirAsia flight QZ8501 lost contact with air traffic controllers while the A320-200 aircraft was en route from from Surabaya to Singapore, the airline confirmed Dec. 30 that The National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia (BARSARNAS) has found debris from the plane floating in the Karimata Strait. There were 155 passengers on board -- 137 adults, 17 children, and 1 infant, along with two pilots, four cabin crew members, and one engineer. The Indonesian government has reported some bodies have been recovered, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
AirAsia's statement says, "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." It quoted two of the low-fare airline's top officials.
Sunu Widyatmoko, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia, 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."
"I am absolutely devastated," said Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia. "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 well-being of the family members of those on board QZ8501."