Divers set to search for AirAsia wreckage after debris, bodies found

Divers and ships will search for the wreckage and the all important black boxes of a doomed AirAsia plane on Wednesday after Indonesian rescuers found several bodies and debris floating in shallow waters off the coast of Borneo. Dozens of Indonesian navy divers are expected to begin the underwater search at first light, a source close to the investigation said. Aviation experts believe the fuselage may be easily found as the aircraft probably only broke up when it hit the water. Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501 lost contact with air traffic control early on Sunday during bad weather on a flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore. The Airbus A320-200 was carrying 162 people, mostly Indonesians. No survivors have been found. Six bodies have reportedly been recovered so far, including that of a flight attendant.

The fact that the debris appears fairly contained suggests the aircraft broke up when it hit the water, rather than in the air.

Neil Hansford, a former pilot and chairman of consultancy firm Strategic Aviation Solutions

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said his priority was getting bodies off the bottom of the Karimata Strait in the Java Sea, where rescuers retrieved a plane door and other debris on Tuesday, so victims could be identified. AirAsia Chief Executive Tony Fernandes, who has described the crash as his “worst nightmare”, was rushing to Surabaya where relatives of the missing are gathered at a crisis centre in Indonesia’s second-largest city. Meanwhile, the United States said its missile-guided destroyer USS Sampson and combat ship USS Fort Worth were awaiting instructions from the Indonesian search command on the recovery operation. Singapore also said it was sending two underwater beacon detectors to try to pick up pings from the black boxes, which contain cockpit voice and flight data recorders.

I feel a deep loss over this disaster and pray for the families to be given fortitude and strength

Indonesian president Joko Widodo

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