DEVELOPING TIMELINE: Latest Verified Updates Of Crashed AirAsia Flight QZ8501

AirAsia to face legal suits by ten families following the crash of Flight QZ8501

A US-based aviation lawyer said today that they are representing 10 families in a lawsuit against AirAsia and Airbus over an aircraft malfunction following the crash of Flight QZ8501 last year. Floyd Wisner of Wisner Law Firm, said although preliminary investigations found that weather was a factor, the Airbus suffered a malfunction of the fly-by-wire system.

Wisner also slammed AirAsia for offering families only half the amount of compensation being paid to families of other recent air disasters.

18 MAR: R.I.P. QZ8501: The search officially ends with 56 victims still missing

The Indonesian search and rescue teams called off the search for AirAsia QZ85O1 on Tuesday ending the hunt for victims from last year’s plane crash, an official said, with 56 people still unaccounted for.

The decision to end the hunt came after AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes signalled last week that operations were drawing to a close. He said that the operation had been “successful” but added that it could not “go on indefinitely”.

28 DEC: No Bodies Found During Successful Retrieval Of The Last Of QZ8501 Fuselage

Indonesia has retrieved the final major part of the fuselage of an AirAsia jet that crashed into the Java Sea in December, killing all 162 people on board, officials said Saturday.

The mangled wreckage, the largest part of the plane retrieved, was pulled from the sea Friday and loaded onto a ship, national search and rescue chief Bambang Soelistyo told AFP. “We have retrieved on Friday the last and large part of the AirAsia fuselage with a wing still intact,” Mr Soelistyo told AFP. No bodies were found during the course of the operation.

“The combined rescue team from SKK Migas (Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force – ed), Basarnas and DiversClub are moving from the rescue spot, transporting the jet fuselage which has been loaded onto Crest Onyx,” said the Chief of National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Marshal FH Bambang Soelistyo in a press conference on Saturday morning (28/2)

Body Of Lone Malaysian Passenger Onboard QZ8501 Has Been Identified

The body of the only Malaysian passenger, Sii Chung Huei, in the AirAsia QZ8501 crash in the Java Sea last Dec 28, was identified by Indonesian authorities today.

Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said the body was found a few days ago but was only confirmed today as that of Sii today after the DNA testing was done.

“The embassy here will arrange for Sii’s remains to be handed over to his family members tomorrow in Surabaya before the remains will be flown back to Sarawak on a Royal Malaysian Air Force aircraft on Wednesday,” Zahrain said when contacted, here, Monday.

9 FEB: Body Believed To Be One Of QZ8501 Pilots Has Been Retrieved

Indonesian search and rescue officials evacuated one of two bodies from the cockpit of the crashed AirAsia flight QZ8501 late on Friday (Feb 6) afternoon.

The pilots’ heavily decomposed bodies still had their airline uniforms on and were strapped to their seats. The cockpit was located 20 metres away from the fuselage on the seabed of the Java Sea.

“It is likely the body of the French co-pilot, wearing uniform with three stripes on (the) shoulder,” he told AFP, adding that the body is still being held onboard the Pacitan warship before being taken to land.

4 FEB: QZ8501 Crash Investigators Refute Claims That Captain Left His Seat

Indonesian air crash investigators said they had not so far found evidence that the pilot of an Indonesia AirAsia jet had left his seat, or that power to an automated control system was shut off, shortly before the aircraft plunged into the sea.

“Up until today, there is no indication yet that the captain left his seat as reported by Reuters,” Ertata Lananggalih, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC), said.

Meanwhile, The Total Number Of Bodies Recovered So Far Is At 90

Six more bodies have been recovered from wreckage of AirAsia QZ8501.

29 JAN: Flight QZ8501 Took Off In Good Conditions But Things Could’ve Gone Wrong In A Span Of Minutes

Before AirAsia Flight QZ8501 crashed, the co-pilot was flying the plane as the more experienced pilot monitored the flight. And things may have gone wrong in a span of just three minutes and 20 seconds, triggering a stall warning that sounded until it crashed into the Java Sea.

Mardjono said the cockpit voice and flight data recorders showed that the plane had been cruising at a stable altitude before the crash. The aircraft was in sound condition when it took off, and all crew members were properly certified, he said.

NTSC chief Tatang Kurniadi told the same Jakarta news conference that Indonesia had submitted its preliminary report on the crash to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) yesterday, as required under global aviation rules.

26 JAN: No Luck For Indonesian Salvage Team During Second Attempt At Lifting QZ8501 Fuselage

The Indonesian admiral in charge of operations to recover AirAsia flight QZ8501 has told the BBC the fuselage may be too fragile to be lifted.

“We managed to float (the fuselage) and we were about to move it to the tugboat when the rope snapped due to an extreme change in the weather,” Rear Admiral Widodo, who goes by one name, told AFP.

The First Attempt At Retrieving The Fuselage On Saturday Also Proved Unsuccessful

A previous effort to the raise the wreckage on Saturday was also foiled when sharp parts of the debris sliced through a strap connecting the fuselage to a giant balloon, the search agency said.

23 JAN: Another Six Bodies Recovered But Still No Luck With The QZ8501 Fuselage

Indonesian divers on Thursday (Jan 22) recovered six bodies, some still belted into their seats, near the main section of an AirAsia plane that crashed into the Java Sea last month, but failed again to reach the fuselage.

“We have found six bodies, four of whom were females and two males, all adults,” S.B. Supriyadi, a rescue agency official coordinating the search, told AFP. He said they were found among debris, with some still strapped into their seats, not far from the jet’s main section.

So far, 59 bodies have been recovered from Flight QZ8501, which plunged into the Java Sea with 162 people on board, while en route from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, to Singapore. Rescuers are still struggling to lift the fuselage and what appears to be the plane’s cockpit from the seabed at a depth of 30m.

DAY 26: Warning Alarms Were “Screaming” Before The Plane’s Fatal Crash

Warning alarms in AirAsia flight QZ8501 were “screaming” as the pilots desperately tried to stabilise the plane just before it plunged into the Java Sea last month, a crash investigator said on Wednesday.

“The warning alarms, we can say, were screaming, while in the background they (the pilot and co-pilot) were busy trying to recover,” the investigator said, adding the warnings were going off “for some time”.

DAY 25: Data Shows AirAsia Flight Experienced A Spike In Speed That Is “Beyond Normal”

“The plane suddenly went up at a speed above the normal limit that it was able to climb to. Then it stalled,” he told reporters. “There’s a possibility of airplane malfunction; a possibility of the human factor,” Mr Utomo said.

“In the final minutes, the plane climbed at a speed which was beyond normal,” Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan told reporters, citing radar data.

The latest data shows the AirAsia plane, an Airbus A320, was climbing at a rate that was twice as fast as it “could and should do on its own,” CNN Aviation Analyst Mary Schiavo said. “I think that means there was a tremendous amount of winds and weather,” she said.

DAY 24: Half Of Cockpit Recording Transcribed, Investigators Found No Evidence Of Terrorism

Indonesian investigators said on Monday they had found no evidence so far that terrorism was involved in the crash of an AirAsia passenger jet last month that killed all 162 people on board.

“In that critical situation, the recording indicates that the pilot was busy with the handling of the plane.”

“We didn’t hear any voice of other persons other than the pilots,” said Nurcahyo Utomo, another investigator from Indonesia’s Transportation Safety Committee. “We didn’t hear any sounds of gunfire or explosions. For the time being, based on that, we can eliminate the possibility of terrorism.” He also said nothing heard on the audio recording so far suggested pilot suicide played a role in the crash.

Investigators have only transcribed half of the cockpit voice recording and that would require more analysis as well.

DAY 23: Two More Bodies Recovered, Bringing Total Remains Retrieved To 53

Two more bodies have been recovered, bringing the number of recovered remains to 53, with 45 identified.

AirAsia, in a statement yesterday, Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has confirmed finding 53 bodies, of which 45 had been identified.

DAY 20: Singapore Armed Forces Bows Out From QZ8501 Search Operation

Singapore Armed Forces’s last ship in Indonesia has left the Java Sea for home, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on his Facebook page on Friday.

“With the flight data and cockpit voice recorders recovered and the fuselage located, the BASARNAS (Indonesian search authority) Chief Bambang Soelistyo has informed other countries that Indonesia would have its own resources for subsequent efforts, and thanked us for all our help,” wrote Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in a Facebook post on Friday (Jan 16).

He added that this marks a formal end to SAF’s involvement in the search for the AirAsia plane and its passengers. Dr Ng thanked and commended all SAF servicemen and women for a job well done. He also offered the condolences of the SAF and fellow Singaporeans to all the victims of the tragic accident.

DAY 19: Having Located The Fuselage, Divers Are Hoping To Find More Bodies

Indonesian divers on Thursday descended to the main body of an AirAsia jet that crashed last month, hoping to recover the bulk of the disaster’s victims, a day after it was finally located by a navy ship.

“They will first assess how many bodies are still trapped inside the fuselage,” he said, adding that about 100 more divers would join the effort after the initial assessment.

If bodies are found in the fuselage, divers will need to determine whether the entire wreckage can be lifted by using large balloons or if bodies need to be retrieved separately.

DAY 18: The Body And Fuselage Of AirAsia’s QZ8501 Have Been Located

The main fuselage of the downed AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501 has been found by a Republic of Singapore Navy vessel, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Wednesday (Jan 14).

“Chief of Navy RADM Lai Chung Han just informed me that one of SAF’s ships, the MV Swift Rescue, has located the fuselage of the AirAsia plane in the Java Sea. Images taken by the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) show part of the wing and words on the fuselage. We have informed BASARNAS, the Indonesian search authority who can now begin recovery operations. The accident is a tragic event resulting in the loss of many lives. I hope that with the fuselage located, some form of closure can come to the families of the victims to ease their grief.”

DAY 17: Tony Fernandes Sends Out A Heartfelt Message To AirAsia Customers

AIRASIA boss Tony Fernandes has sent a personal message thanking customers of the airline, pledging that the airline will overcome the crisis from the crash of flight QZ8501.

Tony in an email acknowledged how the past few weeks have been the most difficult since the start of AirAsia’s 13 years ago and assured customers that the company is committed in reviewing and improving its products and services.

“Together with my 17,000 AirAsia Allstars, we ask that you join us in praying for the family members and loved ones of those on board QZ8501,” said Tony.

See the message in full here:

10:15AM: The Cockpit Voice Recorder Successfully Retrieved From The Wreck

Divers on Tuesday retrieved the black box cockpit voice recorder from the wreck of an AirAsia passenger jet, Indonesian news channel MetroTV said quoting a transport ministry official.

QZ8501’s cockpit voice recorder has been found – a day after the flight data recorder was retrieved – and is now on an Indonesian navy ship, according to Indonesia’s Transport Minister.

Crash investigators in Jakarta are ready to analyse the black box flight data recorder that could throw light on Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501, after divers recovered it “in good condition” yesterday.

DAY 16: First Photos Of The QZ8501 Black Box Have Been Released

2:10PM: Divers Recover Flight Data Recorder While Cockpit Voice Recorder Has Been Located

Divers in Indonesia recovered one of two black boxes from AirAsia Flight 8501 on Monday, two days after the aircraft’s mangled tail section was pulled from the sea and loaded onto a ship.

Divers retrieved one of the black boxes Monday from the AirAsia plane that plummeted more than two weeks ago into the Java Sea, a major breakthrough in the slow-moving hunt to recover bodies and wreckage.

The second black box with the cockpit voice recorder has been located, based on pings from its emergency transmitter, but not yet retrieved, Madjono Siswosuwarno, the main investigator at the National Transportation Safety Committee, told Reuters.

10:10AM: Search Crew Attempts To Retrieve Black Box In A Race Against Time

The black box is currently wedged between pieces of wreckage making it difficult for divers to retrieve, and due to time constraints, retrieval will take place on Monday morning, said Mr Budiono. The search crew will attempt to retrieve the black box by moving parts of wreckage to loosen it from where it is currently stuck, and if that fails, the same balloon method used to lift the tail of the plane will be employed.

The search to find the black boxes is a race against time as the devices’ batteries are designed to transmit signals for up to 30 days. The plane crashed on Dec 28.

DAY 15: AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Black Box ‘May Have Been Found’

The black box holding the key to explaining why an AirAsia flight carrying 162 people plunged into the Java Sea “may have been found”, the company’s chief executive said on Sunday.

We are led to believe Blackbox may ha e been found. Still not confirmed. But strong info coming. But my man thoughts is fuselage.

Separately, an Indonesian search official said a sonar scan had detected a large object under the water that is thought to be the plane’s main fuselage.

“A team of divers has already been sent to prove this data. The diving operation has started,” he said.

DAY 13: Royal Malaysian Army Recovers Two More Bodies

Japanese helicopter crew flew in an additional two bodies to Pangkalan Bun, bringing the total body count to 44, according to reporter Jack Board.

The Royal Malaysian Navy said on Friday that it had handed over the two bodies recovered by its ships to Indonesia’s search and rescue agency BASARNAS.

2 bodies #QZ8501 found by RMN ships yesterday were handed over to BASARNAS.Total of 10 bodies recovered by the RMN. pic.twitter.com/5gEAJtWFdN

Meanwhile, Indonesian Search Team Prepares Lifting Balloons In Case Of Extraction Of Wreckage

Indonesian search teams loaded lifting balloons on to helicopters on Friday ahead of an operation to raise the tail section of an AirAsia jet off the sea bed, raising hopes the black boxes can be found to reveal the cause of the disaster.

DAY 12: SAR Operation Intensifies After Receiving A Brief Ping From The Black Box

Indonesia hopes to retrieve the black box on Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Thursday, after a brief lull in the bad weather allowed divers to positively identify the tail of the Airbus A320-200 plane where the voice and flight data recorders are housed.

The search sectors have been adjusted. The tail of QZ8501 was found in “Most Probable Area 2, said Malaysia’s Chief of Navy Abdul Aziz Jaafar. The search for the black box has been intensified, he added.

Indonesian armed forces chief General Moeldoko said the recovery operation for the aircraft tail is substantial as the black box is located there. Transmission was detected from the black box’s signals near the tail on Wednesday, but it was later lost.

Indonesian military chief General Moeldoko visits Palangkan Bun before taking off on search flight helicopter #QZ8501 pic.twitter.com/aZRnXmzVyd

DAY 11: First Photos Released Of AirAsia Plane Wreckage At The Bottom Of The Sea

“Today we successfully discovered the part of the plane that became the main aim since yesterday,” Soelistyo said. “I can ensure that this is part of the tail with theAirAsia mark on it.”

1:40PM: Chief Of BASARNAS Confirms Tail Of Plane QZ8501 Has Been Found

“We have successfully obtained part of the plane that has been our target. The tail portion has been confirmed found,” search and rescue agency chief Bambang Soelistyo told reporters in Jakarta.

I am led to believe the tail section has been found. If right part of tail section then the black box should be there.

10:30AM: Better Weather Conditions Allow Search Team To Resume Operations

Japanese helicopter crew takes off from base in Kalimantan for flight over #QZ8501 crash site pic.twitter.com/dbhK3sdAqF

The search operation has resumed with conducive early weather conditions, according to Channel NewsAsia reporter Jack Board, who is at Pangkalan Bun.

Just Yesterday, 6 Jan, AirAsia Released A Statement Announcing The Status Of The Search Operation

The SAR operations continued around the focused area where the aircraft is most likely located. More than 40 vessels and 20 helicopters were deployed and focused to find the exact location of the plane’s wreckage as well as the black box.

Also In The Statement, AirAsia Confirmed 39 Bodies Have Been Recovered So Far, With 16 Already Identified

This evening, BASARNAS also confirmed to recover two more remains from the focused search area. The two remains are still in Pangkalan Bun, waiting to be transported to Surabaya for further identification process.

DAY 10: AirAsia Offers RM84,700 Initial Compensation To Families Of QZ8501 Passengers

AirAsia has offered preliminary compensation of US$24,000 (RM84,700) to families of those aboard Flight QZ8501 that crashed last month.

The letter of compensation, which Wall Street Journal (WSJ) claimed to have seen, was dated Jan 2 and said the “initial compensation is part of the overall” compensation that would be given to the family. The letter was on AirAsia stationery, with AirAsia Indonesia Chief Executive Sunu Widyatmoko’s name, but not his signature, the report noted.

Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501 is required to pay compensation to the victim’s next of kin, according to an Indonesian official.

DAY 9: QZ8501 Search Team Recovered 34 Bodies So Far With 9 Identified

Search teams have recovered four more bodies from the Java Sea as the hunt to find the main wreckage of AirAsia flight QZ8501 enters a second week.

34 bodies have been recovered, with nine identified. Experts from Singapore, South Korea and Australia are helping in the identification process. Five major parts of the Airbus A320-200 have been found off the island of Borneo, and search efforts are now focused on locating the tail of the plane, where the black box is.

The Indonesian disaster victim identification team has identified 9 of the 34 bodies recovered from AirAsia flight QZ8501, including those of The Meiji Thejakusuma and her 10-year-old daughter Stevie Gunawan.

DAY 8: Officials Searching For QZ8501 Wreckage Send Divers To Ocean Floor To Seek Clues And Bodies

With the weather improving, divers prepared Sunday to examine wreckage of AirAsia Flight 8501 in hopes of retrieving the rest of the bodies and finding clues to what caused the plane to crash in stormy weather a week ago.

The breakthrough in the hunt for the Airbus A320 came after sonar equipment aboard search ships detected four massive objects on the ocean floor in the Java Sea, and Indonesian officials said they were confident they belong to the plane.

Strong currents and big waves that had prevented divers from entering waters eased on Sunday. About 90 divers from Indonesia and Russia were being deployed to recover more bodies that officials believe are still strapped in their seats, said National Searh and Rescue deputy chief Tatang Zainudin.

DAY 7: Officials Investigating AirAsia Crash Find 2 Large Objects On Sea Floor

Indonesian officials were hopeful Saturday they were honing in on the wreckage of AirAsia Flight 8501 after sonar equipment detected two large objects on the ocean floor, one week after the plane went down in stormy weather.

One was measured at 9.4 meters by 4.8 meters (31 feet by 15 feet) and a half-meter (20 inches) high, Soelistyo told a news conference. The second, found nearby, was 7.2 meters (24 feet) by a half meter (20 inches).

7:55PM: Thirty Bodies Recovered So Far Despite Challenging Search Operations

UPDATE on #AirAsia #QZ8501: 30 bodies have been recovered

BASARNAS says 30 bodies have been recovered – 10 bodies are en route to Surabaya, four are at Pangkalan Bun, eight are on board naval ships, and eight are in Surabaya. Waves reached as high as 5m today, making search operations challenging.

7:18PM: Window Panel Recovered While Tail Of QZ8501 Has Been Sighted

Singapore naval vessel RSS Supreme today recovered what is believed to be a window panel of the AirAsia jet.

RSS Supreme recovered a piece of an aircraft this morning, likely to be a window panel. They have informed the Indonesian search authorities and will be handing over the item.

The tail of the plane has been sighted at a depth of 29 metres, according to Colonel Yayan Sofiyan, the commander of Indonesia’s navy ship Bung Tomo. He revealed this to MetroTV in a phone interview from the deck of the ship.

3:52PM: Three More Bodies Have Been Identified And Names Revealed In Press Conference

Eight bodies have been received so far in Surabaya, say Surabaya police at a press conference. Three bodies have been identified through dental records, fingerprints and medical records, reports Sumisha Naidu.

Three more bodies have been identified – Grayson Hebert, Kevin Alexander Soetjipto (sic) and stewardness Khairunisa Haidar.

RT @sumishanaidu: All bodies identified were Indonesian #QZ8501 http://t.co/ELvc0xbVUG pic.twitter.com/uYej0QKBo9

1:04PM: Day Six Of Search Moves Underwater With Help From French Crash Investigation Team

A multinational team of black box search specialists is joining the international effort to find the AirAsia flight that crashed en route from Indonesia to Singapore.

Debris from the plane has been brought to shore but the fuselage is still missing. The search for AirAsia flight QZ8510 which crashed into the sea on Sunday is to move underwater on Friday, with the arrival of specialist equipment.

The French crash investigation agency will deploy its specialist black box search team and equipment at the search area for Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501.

11:20AM: Sixteen Bodies Found So Far And The First One Has Been Identified

Sixteen bodies have been found, and 10 bodies have been evacuated, says search agency BASARNAS. Eight of the bodies are already in Surabaya, and two of them are in Pangkalan Bun. More bodies are expected today, says BASARNAS.

A passenger aboard AirAsia Flight 8501 became the first victim of the crash to be returned to her family today, one of many painful reunions to come, as search crews struggled against wind and heavy rain to find more than 150 people still missing.

30 DEC, 5.53PM: Two Bodies From QZ8501 Have Arrived To Awaiting Relatives In Surabaya

The first two bodies from the AirAsia Flight QZ8501 crash have arrived back in the Indonesian city of Surabaya, where relatives are waiting for them.

First 2 bodies from #AirAsia #QZ8501 crash arrive in Surabaya, where relatives are waiting http://t.co/hzE4BvgSNu pic.twitter.com/H9LC4KfoBi

3:25PM: DNA Samples Are Collected From Family Members To Assist In Identification

As evacuation operations for the people on board the ill-fated Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501 enters the second day, DNA samples from immediate family members have been taken for identification purposes.

In all, 93 families have given DNA samples to assist in the identification process as of 9.30am on Wednesday, added the police chief at a press conference outside the crisis centre for relatives at Juanda International airport.

He said the authorities already have profile information such as medical records and other documents for the DVI process.

2:25PM: Two Out of Seven Bodies Are En Route To Pangkalan Bun

Two bodies have been brought to Pangkalan Bun on central Kalimantan on Wednesday and another five are still out at sea, said Indonesian officials.

1:41PM: Another Body Has Been Recovered, Totaling To Seven Bodies So Far

Another body has been recovered on the fourth day of the search and recovery effort of AirAsia flight QZ8501 bringing the total to seven bodies so far.

Basarnas, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, said a Malaysian ship found one more body floating in the ocean, separated from the main fuselage, at 10.20am local time. It was of an unidentified male, bringing to seven the number of bodies recovered. None has yet made it back to Surabaya airport.

12:11PM: Location Of Aircraft Has Been Confirmed By Indonesian Authorities

Indonesian searchers using sonar equipment have located wreckage from AirAsia Flight QZ8501 at the bottom of the Java Sea, a search and rescue official told CNN on Wednesday. At the moment, they still don’t know if it’s in one piece or broken up, said the official, Hernato, who goes by one name.

A sonar image appears to show the body of an aircraft upside down on the ocean floor in 24-30 metres of water, reports the Wall Street Journal, citing Indonesia’s search and rescue agency BASARNAS.

11.07AM: Search Operation Has Been Suspended Due To Stormy Weather

Stormy weather has forced Indonesian rescuers to suspend their search for the bodies of those on board AirAsia’s Flight QZ8501, AFP reports.

Soelistyo told reporters on Wednesday that the retrieval process of bodies and debris had been hampered by bad weather.

9AM: Six Bodies Have Been Recovered Alongside Luggage

Divers, ships and aircraft began a new search in the waters off Indonesia Wednesday, a day after spotting the first signs of debris from AirAsia Flight QZ8501. Six bodies from the flight have been recovered so far, including one flight attendant, Indonesian search and rescue chief Bambang Soelistyo said Wednesday.

Now search teams are homing in on the area near where the debris was found, looking for bodies and parts of the plane, including its so-called black boxes. Those could help investigators determine what went wrong on the flight, which lost contact with air traffic controllers on Sunday with 162 people aboard.

Sonar equipment is searching the bottom of the sea, 40 to 50 meters (131 to 164 feet) below the water’s surface, according to SB Supriyadi, the search agency’s director of operations. Dozens of ambulances were lined up in the Indonesian city of Surabaya, ready to carry any bodies recovered.

12:30AM: Only 3 Bodies Pulled Out In QZ8501 Search, Not 40, Indonesian Navy Clarifies

Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) chief said Tuesday that just three bodies had been recovered so far in the search for the Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501 plane which crashed in the Java Sea, after another official said 40 had been found.

“Today we evacuated three bodies and they are now in the warship Bung Tomo,” Bambang Soelistyo told a news conference in Jakarta, adding that they were two females and one male.

30 DEC, 7:23PM: PM Najib Offers His Condolences To Family Members Of Victims Onboard QZ8501

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic) has extended his heartfelt condolences to families and loved ones of victims aboard the downed Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501.

6:00PM: More Than 40 Bodies Recovered From Java Sea, Some Holding Hands

An Indonesian warship recovered more than 40 bodies from the sea on Tuesday in the search for the AirAsia jet, a navy spokesman told AFP.

Meanwhile, detik.com say some of the bodies retrieved are found with their hands held together.

5:24PM: AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes Is Heading To Surabaya, Offers Whatever Support Needed

AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes issued a heartfelt apology to family members of those on board QZ8501 flight, after news broke on Tuesday that the debris found floating at sea belonged to the missing plane.

My heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ 8501. On behalf of AirAsia my condolences … http://t.co/OJGobL93cR

I am rushing to Surabaya. Whatever we can do at Airasia we will be doing.

4:59PM: Six Bodies From Missing Flight QZ8501 Have Been Retrieved So Far

Indonesian Metro TV reported that they have found six bodies.

Six bodies were discovered about an hour and a half flight away from Surabaya.

4:13PM: Three Bodies From Flight QZ8501 Have Been Retrieved And Brought To A Navy Ship

Indonesian officials coming off a helicopter on Borneo island Tuesday said they spotted several bodies floating in waters near where the missing AirAsia flight was last seen. Images on local television showed at least one bloated corpse.

BREAKING NEWS: Three bodies recovered so far from flight #QZ8501 and have been brought on to an Indonesian navy ship. AP

3:50PM: BASARNAS Chief Confirms Debris Found Were Indeed From Missing Flight QZ8501

Debris spotted Tuesday during an aerial search for AirAsia flight QZ8501 is from the missing plane, Indonesia’s director general of civil aviation told AFP.

“For the time being it can be confirmed that it’s the AirAsia plane and the transport minister will depart soon to Pangkalan Bun,” Mr Djoko Murjatmodjo said.

JAKARTA (AFP/REUTERS) – Debris spotted on Tuesday during an aerial search for AirAsia flight QZ8501 is temporarily confirmed to be from the missing plane, Indonesia’s director-general of civil aviation told AFP.

3:30PM: Public Awaits Confirmation Of Possible Sighting Of People Near Debris Found

Relatives in Surabaya breaking down on hearing debris of AirAsia #QZ8501 plane has been found http://t.co/S5uCx4G2NN pic.twitter.com/HfmYhK7Mj1

#AirAsia #QZ8501: A navy chief spokesman says “crew had visual of people at sea surface, not far from debris”

#AirAsia #QZ8501: Indonesian navy says authorities checking to see if sightings are bodies or people still alive

1.58PM: Objects Resembling Emergency Slide And Plane Door Spotted In QZ8501 Search Zone

#BREAKING Items resembling emergency slide, plane door seen in search for AirAsia flight #QZ8501: Indonesia

BREAKING: Indonesia TV networks Kompas, Metro broadcasting images of purported plane debris http://t.co/V94qh9sUxB pic.twitter.com/27Zb0kBRCs

#QZ8501: Officials attempting to verify debris spotted by fishermen off Pulau Bangka. Items resemble an emergency slide & plane door v @AFP

1.02PM: Indonesia AirAsia Taking Relatives In Chartered Plane To QZ8501 Search Zone

JUST IN: #AirAsia to fly families of #QZ8501 passengers to search area, reports AP-Dow Jones http://t.co/V94qh9sUxB pic.twitter.com/8CmQSScNfX

.@HaidiLun: Indonesia AirAsia Director: Airline will fly families, relatives to #QZ8501 search area, will take 180 people in chartered plane

#AirAsia chartering flight to search location for relatives to circle area so that they can pray for safe return of passengers #QZ8501

11.54AM: Relatives Of Passengers And Crew Onboard QZ8501 To Turn Up At Surabaya Crisis Centre

About 100 next-of-kin of those on board QZ8501 are expected to turn up at the crisis centre in Surabaya, reports Channel 8 News, adding that Singapore, Jakarta and Surabaya are preparing to hold a video conference for the missing plane.

Indonesian officials are seeking to be straight with relatives of passengers on board AirAsia flight QZ8501.

#QZ8501: About 100 next-of-kin are expected to turn up at Surabaya crisis centre @ch8newsSG http://t.co/V94qh9sUxB pic.twitter.com/B9MJBWBfW7

10.56AM: Search Area Expands On Day Three Of Operation In Locating Missing Flight QZ8501

Countries around Asia on Tuesday stepped up the search for an AirAsia plane carrying 162 people that is presumed to have crashed in shallow waters off the Indonesian coast, with Washington also sending a warship to help find the missing jet. Soelistyo, head of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, told local television the search area between the islands of Sumatra and Borneo would be expanded.

More planes will be in the air and more ships on the sea Tuesday hunting for AirAsia Flight 8501 in a widening search off Indonesia that has dragged into a third day without any solid leads.

At least 30 ships, 15 aircraft and seven helicopters were looking for the jet carrying 162 people, said Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo.

He said the search area would be expanded to land areas, with four military helicopters dispatched just after sunrise near Pangkalan Bun on the western part of Borneo island and to smaller islands of Bangka and Belitung.

10.06AM: Two Jets Sent To Investigate Reports Of Smoke On An Island

Dr Max Ruland, Director of Operations for the search and rescue mission, confirmed to CBS News that two Cessna jets have been dispatched to check on reports of smoke on an island in the search zone, which is larger than the state of California.

Any sighting of smoke in the search is not necessarily linked to the missing plane, and should be treated with caution at this stage. Aviation journalist John Walton offered an alternative explanation for the smoke sighting:

Multiple unconfirmed reports of smoke in #QZ8501 search area. Caveat: burning forests for paper production is common this time of year.

29 DEC: Objects Spotted In Sea In QZ8501 Search Zone Was False Alarm

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla says the object spotted at sea during the search operation is not from QZ8501, reports AFP. Earlier, there were reports that an Australian search plane had found objects in waters 700 miles off the last known location of QZ8501.

“It has been checked and no sufficient evidence was found to confirm what was reported,” Kalla told a press conference at Surabaya airport from where the ill-fated plane departed.

5.30PM: Indonesia Unable To Confirm Sighting Of Objects While Search For QZ8501 Comes Up Empty

JUST IN: Indonesia cannot confirm objects spotted in #QZ8501 search zone, says VP Jusuf Kalla http://t.co/I9lXiR4BQ4 pic.twitter.com/YbU3LS7Efx

Two of the four boats that took part in search efforts around Pulau Nangka and Pulau Pesumut today have returned after six hours, with nothing found so far, our digital producer Xabryna Kek reports.

5.19PM: Australian Plane Spots Objects Near Pulau Nangka While Searching For Missing Flight QZ8501

An Indonesian official says objects have been spotted in the sea by a search plane hunting for the missing AirAsia jet.

Jakarta’s Air Force base commander Rear Marshal Dwi Putranto says he was informed Monday that an Australian Orion aircraft had detected suspicious objects near Nangka island, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Pangkalan Bun, near central Kalimantan, or 700 miles (1,120 kilometers) from the location where the plane lost contact.

“However, we cannot be sure whether it is part of the missing AirAsia plane,” Putranto said.

2.50PM: Decision To Discontinue Flight Code QZ8501 Hangs In the Air

Indonesia AirAsia is planning to retire its QZ8501 flight code following the disappearance of its aircraft en route to Surabaya to Singapore on Sunday.

The continued use of the flight code caused confusion this morning when Singapore TV station Channel News Asia put up a Facebook post stating that Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501 “landed safely” today at Changi airport.

2.20PM: The Only Malaysian Onboard Missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Has Been Identified

The Malaysian on board missing Indonesia Air Asia flight QZ8501 is believed to be Sii Chung Huei from Sarawak.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak today confirmed that Sii Chung Huei, the only Malaysian on board the missing AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501 is the husband of Assoc Prof Annie Wong Muk Ngiik.

Earlier, Hong Kong media identified the identity of the Malaysian passenger as 56-year-old Sii who worked for a timber company in Surabaya. He was said to be travelling home to Sarawak via Singapore. It was understood that Sii was originally from Bintulu who later moved to Sibu and then to Kuching.

12.15PM: Indonesia Search Chief Speculates Missing Flight QZ8501 Is At The Bottom Of The Sea

Indonesia was searching the Java Sea on Monday for the AirAsia plane that went missing on Sunday during a flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore.

The AirAsia plane which went missing with 162 people on board en route for Singapore is likely at the bottom of the sea, Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) chief said Monday (Dec 29).

10.15AM: The Search For AirAsia’s QZ8501 Continues After Disappearing For More Than 24 Hours

The search for missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501 resumed on Monday, a day after the commercial jet disappeared in Indonesian airspace with 162 people aboard.

“We have resumed the search for the missing AirAsia plane at 6am. We are heading to east Belitung island,” Tatang Zainuddin, deputy operations chief of Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), told AFP.

Singapore had offered two C-130 planes for search-and-locate operations, and the first of two planes left at around 4.32pm on Sunday. The first plane carried out the search for two hours before leaving at 8.30pm after Indonesian authorities called off the search for the night.

28 DEC: Search Suspended For The Day With No Sign Of The Missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501

As night fell in Asia, Indonesian officials said they had spotted no sign of the plane in the area over the Java Sea but had to stop their search, hampered by bad weather and darkness.

Reports Of The Missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Having Crashed Are NOT True

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai asked Malaysians to remain calm and not listen to unverified news reports.

Members of the public, especially social media users, have been advised to not spread unofficial news about the missing AirAsia Indonesia Flight QZ8501.

Joint SAR Operations Are Being Deployed By Indonesia And Singapore

Singapore’s military planes and vessels are on standby to help with the search-and-rescue operation for the missing AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501.

He added that he had spoken to Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu: “Offered our thoughts and prayers for passengers and crew of Air Asia flight QZ8501. I told him that our SAF planes and ships were already on standby. If he needed their services or any other assistance, the SAF is ready to help. DM Ryamizard thanked me for Singapore’s concern.”

Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong Has Offered Help To Locate Missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501

Called Pres @jokowi_do2 to offer help. Two RSAF C-130 search & locate aircrafts are on standby. Our ministers will follow up. – LHL #QZ8501

2.35PM: Indonesian Embassy Officials Have Been Spotted Arriving At Changi Airport

Missing @AirAsia #QZ8501: Indonesian embassy officials arriving at Changi Airport Terminal 2 http://t.co/HfketXjvJW pic.twitter.com/WfMJFmwJaV

2.15PM: No Distress Signal Was Sent As Confirmed By An Official From The Indonesian Transport Ministry

No distress signal had been sent, said Joko Muryo Atmodjo, air transportation director at the Indonesian transport ministry.

“We don’t dare to presume what has happened except that it has lost contact.” Djoko Murjatmodjo, Indonesia’s acting director general of transportation, told reporters. He said the last contact between pilot and the air traffic control was at 6.13 a.m. “when he asked to hinder cloud by turning left and go higher to 34,000 feet.”

2.10PM: The Malaysian Government Will Help In Search For Missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501

The Malaysian Government will assist AirAsia to help find Flight QZ8501, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic) on Sunday.

2.00PM: Family Members Of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Makes Their Way To Changi Airport

Relatives of @AirAsia #QZ8501 entering Changi Airport T2. A press conference will be held soon http://t.co/HfketXjvJW pic.twitter.com/quYZKuiX3V

#QZ8501: Two family members seen entering the holding area at Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 http://t.co/XhDES2KrHP pic.twitter.com/m1HFpe9tBw

1.50PM: UNCONFIRMED: Airplane Wreckage Has Reportedly Been Found, Though Not Verified By AirAsia

5:33 GMT:

1.40PM: AirAsia Releases An Updated Statement On Their Facebook Page Verifying The 162 Passengers And Crew Onboard

The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC. There were two pilots, four flight attendants and one engineer on board.

Search And Rescue Operations Are Being Carried Out By The Indonesia Of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

At this time, search and rescue operations are being conducted under the guidance of The Indonesia of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). AirAsia Indonesia is cooperating fully and assisting the investigation in every possible way.

In The Updated Statement, AirAsia Confirmed The Flight Plan Route Was Changed Due To Weather

The aircraft was on the submitted flight plan route and was requesting deviation due to enroute weather before communication with the aircraft was lost while it was still under the control of the Indonesian Air Traffic Control (ATC).

1.30PM: UNCONFIRMED: Passenger Manifest Of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Has Been Released

The unconfirmed passenger manifest can be found here

1.25PM: Obama Has Been Notified Of The Missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501

White House: Obama has been briefed on #AirAsia #QZ8501‘s loss of contact with Indonesian air traffic control. http://t.co/dCKXKjdLlq

Meanwhile, AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes Said They Are Releasing Another Statement Soon

We will be putting out another statement soon. Thank you for all your thoughts and prays.we must stay strong.

12.00PM: An AirAsia flight travelling from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control. There were 162 people onboard, the BBC reported via Indonesian media.

AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact at 07:24hrs this morning http://t.co/WomRQuzcPO

The aircraft, flight number QZ8501, lost contact with air traffic control just after 07:24am local time. This is the flight route of the missing flight.

Flight route of missing @AirAsia flight #QZ8501 – MORE: http://t.co/YHvRi0aa5m pic.twitter.com/gZx8DvES9E

A transportation ministry official said the flight had seven crew and 155 passengers (total 162), and lost contact when it was believed to be over the Java Sea between Kalimantan and Java islands

Satellite image around time #AirAsia flight went missing, very vigorous thunderstorms (black) north of Surabaya pic.twitter.com/w8jSzfzvmi

The plane, an Airbus 320-200, had asked for an unusual route before it lost contact, said Transport Ministry official Hadi Mustofa. Meanwhile, AirAsia issued a formal statement on the missing flight:

AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24hrs this morning.

Following the report, AirAsia has now established an Emergency Call Centre for family or friends of those who may be onboard

An Emergency Call Centre has been established by #AirAsia for family or friends of those who may be onboard. The number is +622129850801

Singapore Air Force and navy have been activated to assist AirAsia flight QZ8501 search and rescue, BBC reported

The company said that search and rescue operations were under way for the missing plane.

Meanwhile, AirAsia has changed its logo colour to grey from red on its Facebook pages after QZ8501 went missing

This is a developing timeline! The SAYS team is currently sourcing verified information to give you the full story. More to come.

DEVELOPING TIMELINE: Latest Verified Updates Of Crashed AirAsia Flight QZ8501 have 7420 words, post on says.com at June 30, 2015. This is cached page on Europe Breaking News. If you want remove this page, please contact us.