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AirAsia Jet From Indonesia Is Missing Nightfall Forces Indonesia to Suspend Search for AirAsia Flight
(about 2 hours later)
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. BANGKOK — As darkness fell over the Java Sea on Sunday, the Indonesian authorities called off a search for an AirAsia jet with 162 people on board that had been missing since early that morning, 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. The search, involving vessels from three countries, was to continue in the morning.
“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. The plane 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.
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. By nightfall, searchers had still found no sign of the wreckage, Indonesian officials said. They were searching a 100-mile area near the island of Belitung, in the Java Sea between the islands of Borneo and Java, where the plane was last known to be flying, officials said.
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 plane, AsiaAir Flight QZ8501, belongs to the Indonesian affiliate of AirAsia, 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.
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.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.
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.
Kompas newspaper in Indonesia quoted Mr. Djoko as saying that the plane’s request to divert from its flight path was approved but that air traffic controllers denied the request to ascend to 38,000 feet “because of traffic.” He did not elaborate.
The paper also quoted Syamsul Huda, director for aviation and meteorology at the Indonesian state weather agency, as saying that there were “many clouds along the route,” including large cumulonimbus clouds.
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.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.
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.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 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.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 the passengers included 16 children and one infant. A crew of two pilots and five cabin crew members were also on board.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 155 Indonesians, three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one Malaysian, one Briton and a French citizen, AirAsia said.
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. The captain was identified as Irianto, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. France’s Foreign Ministry said the French citizen was the co-pilot.
Airbus said in a statement Sunday that the aircraft was delivered to the airline in 2008, and it had flown around 13,600 flights.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.
The AirAsia plane’s disappearance on Sunday appeared to be the latest in a string of plane accidents over the years in Indonesia, which has seen explosive growth in air travel despite a troublesome safety record.
While many accidents have not caused fatalities, the recurring headlines and images of dazed passengers swimming ashore have raised concerns abroad that Indonesia’s air safety regulations have failed to keep pace with the industry’s growth.
Since 2007, the European Union has barred dozens of carriers from Indonesia from its skies, in an effort to pressure local regulators to shore up air safety standards. The majority of airlines that appear on the European Union's so-called aviation blacklist — which includes airlines from several African countries — do not operate flights to Europe. However, travel agencies across the 28-member bloc are required to inform all European passengers who have plans to travel on a carrier listed on the aviation blacklist.
AirAsia, one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, has an excellent safety record. Its Indonesian subsidiary is not included on the European safety list, which was most recently updated this month. However, a budget long-haul affiliate, Indonesia AirAsia X, is among the airlines listed.
The missing aircraft last underwent scheduled maintenance on Nov. 16, AirAsia said.
AirAsia waited more than four hours to announce on its Facebook page that the aircraft was missing. The airline did not explain the delay.
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, 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.”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.”