Bodies recovered close to site of missing AirAsia flight QZ8501
Bodies have been found near the area where AirAsia QZ8501 with 162 people on board went missing, according to Indonesian officials.
The National Search and Rescue Director SB Supriyadi announced the bodies had been brought on board a naval vessel. No life jackets were found on the bodies which were recovered from the sea. They were found six miles from where flight QZ8501 last communicated with air traffic control.
Earlier at a press conference Indonesian search and rescue officials told the world that they were 95 per cent sure debris found off the Kalamantan coast was from the missing airplane.
The transport ministry’s acting director general Djoko Murjatmodjo later confirmed the debris was from flight QZ8501.
Speaking to AFP he said:
For the time being it can be confirmed that it’s the AirAsia plane and the transport minister will depart soon to Pangkalan Bun.
Based on the observation by search and rescue personnel, significant objects have been found, such as a passenger door and cargo door.
The chief executive of AirAsia said he was rushing to Surabaya and AirAsia will be doing whatever it can to help. He added "my heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ8501. On behalf of AirAsia my condolences".