Flight recorders show that AirAsia QZ 8501 was flying too fast before stalling and losing in touch with the Indonesian control tower.

At normal speeds the Airbus 320 is designed to fly up to 1000-2000 ft while climbing. The AirAsia flight QZ 8501 ascended at 6000ft after asking permission to fly from 11,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Investigators confirmed there is no foul play or evidence of terrorism involved in the recent crash. They also confirmed that there were no sounds of gunfire.

The AirAsia Flight QZ 8501 wreckage including the fuselage are embedded in the JavaSea, and Indonesian search officials are still figuring out a way to lift it from the seafloor. Bad weather has hampered the search and rescue mission in the Java Sea.

The plane's flight data and cockpitflight recorders were retrieved earlier this week, and will be key to learning the cause of the crash. Earlier Friday, chief of operation Suryadi Bambang Supriyadi said the wreckage that appears to be the cockpit was located by sonar imagery about 500meters (yards) from the fuselage and partly embedded in the mud.

Preliminary investigations will be released after a month of the AirAsia crash, while a more thorough report is expected in a year.

This is AirAsia's first crash in the budget carrier's history.