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AirAsia Jet From Indonesia Is Missing AirAsia Jet From Indonesia Is Missing
(35 minutes later)
BANGKOK — The Indonesian authorities were searching on Sunday afternoon for an AirAsia jet with 155 passengers on board that lost contact with air traffic controllers hours earlier, the airline and government officials said. BANGKOK — The Indonesian authorities were searching on Sunday afternoon for an AirAsia jet with 162 people on board that lost contact with air traffic controllers hours earlier, the airline and government officials said.
The plane, Flight QZ8501, left the Indonesian city of Surabaya around 5:30 a.m. local time for the short hop to Singapore, a flight that usually takes about two hours, the airline said. Air traffic control lost contact with the Airbus A320-200 at 6:17 a.m., about 40 minutes later, Indonesian officials said. The plane, Flight QZ8501, left the Indonesian city of Surabaya around 5:30 a.m. for the short hop to Singapore, a flight that usually takes about two hours, the airline said. Air traffic control lost contact with the Airbus A320-200 at 6:17 a.m., about 40 minutes later, Indonesian officials said.
“At this time, search-and-rescue operations are in progress, and AirAsia is cooperating fully and assisting the rescue service,” the airline said in a statement on Facebook.“At this time, search-and-rescue operations are in progress, and AirAsia is cooperating fully and assisting the rescue service,” the airline said in a statement on Facebook.
Flightradar24, a website that uses a global system of beacons to monitor air traffic, said the aircraft was over the Java Sea, which separates the islands of Borneo and Java, when the aircraft’s signal was lost. Flightradar24, a website that uses a global system of beacons to monitor air traffic, said the aircraft had been over the Java Sea, which separates the islands of Borneo and Java, when the plane’s signal was lost.
AirAsia is a regional budget carrier based in Malaysia. Two other jets belonging to a Malaysian carrier, Malaysia Airlines, were lost this year. One was shot down over eastern Ukraine in July. The other disappeared over the Indian Ocean in March and has not been found.AirAsia is a regional budget carrier based in Malaysia. Two other jets belonging to a Malaysian carrier, Malaysia Airlines, were lost this year. One was shot down over eastern Ukraine in July. The other disappeared over the Indian Ocean in March and has not been found.
The aircraft that disappeared Sunday is operated by AirAsia’s Indonesian affiliate.The aircraft that disappeared Sunday is operated by AirAsia’s Indonesian affiliate.
Shortly before contact was lost, the cockpit informed air traffic controllers in Jakarta that it was planning to rise from 32,000 feet to 38,000 feet to avoid a cloud, Djoko Murjatmodjo, the acting director general of Air Transport at Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, told reporters at a news conference in Jakarta. Shortly before contact was lost, the cockpit crew informed air traffic controllers in Jakarta that they were planning to rise to 38,000 from 32,000 feet to avoid a cloud, Djoko Murjatmodjo, the acting director general of Air Transport at Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation, told reporters at a news conference in Jakarta.
“At the moment, we don’t know where the exact location is, except that this morning at 0617, we lost contact,” Mr. Djoko said. The Singapore authorities said contact was lost at 6:24 a.m. Jakarta time; the discrepancy has not been explained.“At the moment, we don’t know where the exact location is, except that this morning at 0617, we lost contact,” Mr. Djoko said. The Singapore authorities said contact was lost at 6:24 a.m. Jakarta time; the discrepancy has not been explained.
Earth Networks, a company that tracks weather conditions across the globe, said it had recorded a number of lightning strikes “near the path” of Flight 8501 on Sunday morning between 6:09 and 6:20.
Mr. Djoko said the authorities had not detected any emergency distress beacons that are normally triggered by an accident.Mr. Djoko said the authorities had not detected any emergency distress beacons that are normally triggered by an accident.
“Therefore we cannot assume anything yet,” he said.“Therefore we cannot assume anything yet,” he said.
The Malaysian founder of the airline, Tony Fernandes, said in a Twitter message on Sunday that he was traveling to Surabaya where most of of the passengers on the jet were from. Earth Networks, a company that tracks weather conditions across the globe, said it had recorded a number of lightning strikes “near the path” of Flight 8501 on Sunday morning between 6:09 and 6:20.
The captain of the flight was identified as Irianto, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. The first officer was identified as Remi Emmanuel Plesel, whom the Indonesian media said was a French citizen. While it is rare for a lightning strike to cause serious structural damage that threatens the safety of an aircraft, it can disrupt navigation systems, such as magnetic compasses. A lightning flash, particularly at night, can also momentarily disorient the pilots.
The turbulence associated with a big storm can sometimes be severe and sudden shifts in wind direction could disrupt the airflow through a jet engine, potentially causing it to shut down. However, a shutdown of all engines in such a scenario would be highly unlikely and the Airbus A320 is certified to fly up to three hours on a single engine, in compliance with global aviation safety regulations.
The Malaysian founder of the airline, Tony Fernandes, said in a Twitter message on Sunday that he was traveling to Surabaya where most of of the plane’s 155 passengers on the jet were from.
Indonesia dispatched marine vessels and aircraft to assist in the search, the authorities said. Singapore also activated its air force and navy to assist in the search.Indonesia dispatched marine vessels and aircraft to assist in the search, the authorities said. Singapore also activated its air force and navy to assist in the search.
AirAsia said in its statement that in addition to the 155 passengers on the plane — a figure that includes 16 children and one infant — two pilots and five cabin crew members were onboard. AirAsia said in its statement that the passengers included 16 children and one infant. A crew of two pilots and five cabin crew members were also on board.
The passengers and crew included 156 Indonesians, three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one Malaysian and one French citizen, AirAsia said.The passengers and crew included 156 Indonesians, three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one Malaysian and one French citizen, AirAsia said.
Airbus said in a statement Sunday that the aircraft was delivered to the airline in 2008. The captain was identified as Irianto, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. The first officer was identified as Remi Emmanuel Plesel, whom the Indonesian media said was a French citizen.
Airbus said in a statement Sunday that the aircraft was delivered to the airline in 2008, and it had flown around 13,600 flights.
The Malaysia Airlines jets that were lost this year were both Boeing 777-200ERs.The Malaysia Airlines jets that were lost this year were both Boeing 777-200ERs.
Eric Schultz, a White House spokesman, said that President Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii, had been briefed on the search for the plane, and that “White House officials will continue to monitor the situation.”Eric Schultz, a White House spokesman, said that President Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii, had been briefed on the search for the plane, and that “White House officials will continue to monitor the situation.”
On Sunday, the Twitter account for Malaysia Airlines posted a message: “#staystrong @AirAsia — Our thoughts and prayers are with all family and friends of those onboard QZ8501.” On Sunday, Malaysia Airlines posted a message on its Twitter account: “#staystrong @AirAsia — Our thoughts and prayers are with all family and friends of those onboard QZ8501.”