AirAsia Search Day 8: 4 Bodies, 1 Big Debris; 'Who Was Responsible For QZ 8501 Takeoff Clearance?'; Route Not Licensed To Fly
AirAsia Search Day 8. According to the latest reports from Indonesia, where the search and rescue (SAR) is still searching for flight recorders and bodies in the Java Sea, after the Malaysia-based AirAsia Flight QZ8501 went missing off the radar screen 45 minutes into a flight from Surabaya to Changi Singapore Airport, where relatives and friends were eagerly awaiting their loved ones during the holiday season.
But the New Year in Indonesia began on a bitter note as bodies were found off the coast of Borneo and near the crash site - some passengers were belted to their seats, while others were floating in the water, and other passengers had life jackets on. Some of the passengers were also seen holding hands forming a circle. However, there are no survivors and while the Indonesian Navy was able to retrieve a raft, the chance of finding any survivors coming out of this rescue operation is impossible or highly unlikely, say reports.
In the most recent developments from the AirAsia QZ 8501 search, debris from the A320-200 reveal that the airplane was broken into pieces, suggesting a crash at the time of landing on water. Now the total count from the AirAsia QZ 8501 crash is 34 - four more bodies were found along with a fifth large object.
Xinhua News Agency via Firstpost.com reported, "National Search and Rescue Agency head Bambang Soelistyo said the object - 9.8 metres long, 1.1 metres wide and 0.4 metre high - has been located on the seabed. Nine ships have been sent to the area to continue the search."
In an important development from the Indonesian Transport Department, the Transport minister held all those who gave AirAsia permission to fly on Sunday responsible for the crash and "threatens to sack those who cleared QZ8501 for takeoff when AirAsia was not permitted to fly on Sundays," reported Malaysiakinis.com.
The weather department in Indonesia blamed 'ice' conditions for the AirAsia crash that killed all 162 on board.
