At least 40 bodies have been spotted and six recovered from missing
AirAsia Flight QZ8501 amid reports that the plane door and emergency
slide belonging to the passenger jet have been found and a "shadow"
spotted on the seabed.
Around 10 objects have been found in the Java Sea, roughly six miles
from where the plane lost contact with air traffic control, including
what Indonesian air force officials claim are items resembling a plane
door and emergency slide and the shadow of what appeared to be the
outline of the Flight QZ8501 just under the water.
Rescue efforts are being hampered by 20 knot winds and strong waves,
however, additional ships are en route to discovery site according to
Indonesia's defence minister Ng Eng Hen.
A press conference held this evening (local time) said that permitting
weather conditions recovery teams would continue through the night
with additional divers and underwater survey ships arriving to help.
First Lieutenant Tri Wibowo, who was on board a Hercules during the
first search operation, described finding the debris: "We thought that
the passengers were still alive and waved at us for help. But when we
approached closer [we saw] they were already dead."
"As we approached, the body seemed bloated," he told national
Indonesian newspaperKompas.
National Search and Rescue Director SB Supriyadi later told reporters
in Pangkalan Bun that bodies had been brought onto an Indonesian ship.
The bodies, found off the coast of Borneo about 105 miles south of the
town, were not reportedly wearing life jackets.
Indonesian navy spokesman Manahan Simorangkir told AFP: "Based on the
navy radio, it has been reported that the warship Bung Tomo has
retrieved 40 bodies and the number is growing".
The bodies are due to be identified at Bhayangkara Hospital, Surabaya,
east Java, although the condition of the bodies remains unclear that
may affect identification.
An Indonesian Navy helicopter assists in the search for missing
AirAsia flight QZ8501 near Batam, south of Singapore
The CEO of AirAsia Tony Fernandes tweeted: "My heart is filled with
sadness for all the families involved in QZ 8501. On behalf of AirAsia
my condolences". He has arrived in Surabaya to see families and is
reported as appearing "utterly dejected."
The company has released a statement confirming the find and offering
"sincere sympathies" to the families of passengers and crew members.
Indonesia's vice-president is due to give a press conference in
Jakarta shortly, as the president travels to Surabaya to meet families
and view the crash site.
akarta's Air Force base commander Rear Marshal Dwi Putranto (C) and
Indonesian Air Force crew show pieces recovered from the wreck
Search and Rescue Agency chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo told reporters
"more than one" body had been recovered.
During the press conference, held at around 2pm local time, he said
that search teams had seen a shadow underneath the water, allegedly in
the shape of a plane.
Yusef Latif, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Search and Rescue team,
said an Indonesian military aircraft saw white, red and black objects,
including what appears to be a life jacket. AirAsia's livery is red
and white.
Relatives of the families were visibly upset when local TV channels
aired footage of the discovery, some of which appeared to show not
only the debris but also a floating body.
Very difficult to hear the screaming and crying relatives. They've
been waiting for a miracle, but had to watch the worst possible news.--
Alice Budisatrijo (@alicebudi) December 30, 2014
BBC news teams based in Surabaya allegedly heard screaming and crying
from inside the relatives crisis centre.
Asian TV News station Channel NewsAsia has apologised after they
"inadvertently" aired images of the bodies taken from local channels.
My heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ
8501. On behalf of AirAsia my condolences ... http://t.co /OJGobL93cR--
Tony Fernandes (@tonyfernandes) December 30, 2014
--The Independent
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