Indonesia has reportedly confirmed that AirAsia Flight QZ 8501, which went missing December 28, crashed into the Java Sea along with the seven crew members and 155 passengers inside the plane, according to BBC News.
Questions have continued to arise as to what happened to the plane as this is now reportedly the third Malaysian-related air tragedy this year, although none of the disasters are related, according to TIME.
There was reportedly no distress call issued before the plane disappeared from radar, and no emergency-locator transmitters have been detected. Bad weather is reportedly thought to be a likely factor for the plane’s disappearance.
AirAsia Flight QZ 8501 reportedly disappeared 42 minutes into the flight.
Indonesian TV reportedly aired the images of what appeared to be a dead body and aircraft debris floating in the Java Sea as relatives of the victims had gathered at the airport waiting for news regarding their loved ones.
“AirAsia Indonesia regrets to inform that The National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia today confirmed that the debris found earlier today is indeed from QZ 8501, the flight that had lost contact with air traffic control on the morning of 28th December 2014,” the airline said in a statement.
The airline added, “The debris of the aircraft was found in the Karimata Strait around 110 nautical miles south west from Pangkalan Bun.”
Tony Fernandes, group chief executive officer of AirAsia spoke on the tragic news as well.
“I am absolutely devastated. 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 QZ 8501,” stated Fernandes.
