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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Air search for missing AirAsia jet suspended | Air search for missing AirAsia jet suspended |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| BEIJING — With the disappearance Sunday morning of yet another plane from Southeast Asia, the day unfolded here with scenes that have grown tragically familiar: the series of news conferences by government and airline officials, the mounting of a huge search-and-recovery operation, the families gathered at the airport tearfully awaiting word. | |
| Indonesian authorities launched then had to suspend an air search for an AirAsia plane carrying 162 passengers and crew after it lost contact Sunday morning with air-traffic control. | |
| By nightfall Sunday, Indonesian officials said they had spotted no sign of the plane in the area over the Java Sea but had to stop their search, hampered by bad weather and darkness. The air search was to be continued Monday morning. | |
| Flight QZ8501 — an Airbus A320-200 jet — was bound for Singapore and lost contact at 6:17 a.m. local time (6:17 p.m. Saturday in Washington). The break in communications occurred 42 minutes after takeoff from the Indonesian city of Surabaya and roughly an hour before its scheduled landing at Changi Airport, Indonesian authorities said. | |
| AirAsia said in a statement that the plane’s pilot had requested to deviate from the submitted flight plan because of weather before communication was lost. | AirAsia said in a statement that the plane’s pilot had requested to deviate from the submitted flight plan because of weather before communication was lost. |
| Flight QZ8501’s disappearance comes on the heels of two other major airplane disasters this year — all with a Malaysia connection. AirAsia is a budget airline based in Malaysia, although the plane that lost contact belonged to AirAsia’s Indonesian affiliate. | Flight QZ8501’s disappearance comes on the heels of two other major airplane disasters this year — all with a Malaysia connection. AirAsia is a budget airline based in Malaysia, although the plane that lost contact belonged to AirAsia’s Indonesian affiliate. |
| In March, Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared, with 239 people on board; it is still missing. In July, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine; all 298 people aboard died. | |
| AirAsia — a low-cost Asian carrier bought and relaunched in 2001 by its current chief executive, Tony Fernandes — has never suffered a fatal accident. Over the past decade, it has become a strong regional competitor, with short flights and cheap tickets throughout Southeast Asia. | |
| In a written statement, AirAsia said the captain of Sunday’s Flight QZ8501 had “a total of 6,100 flying hours and the first officer a total of 2,275 flying hours” under their belts. | |
| The airline added that the plane underwent “its last scheduled maintenance” on Nov. 16. | |
| In a statement early Sunday, the plane’s manufacturer, Airbus, said that it is assisting with the investigation and that the plane had accumulated about 23,000 flight hours in about 13,600 flights. | |
| Djoko Murjatmodjo, Indonesia’s acting director general of transportation, said at a news conference in Surabaya that the pilots had asked to ascend to 38,000 feet because of clouds. Minutes later, the official said, the plane went missing from the radar. Indonesian officials said there was no distress signal from the cockpit. | Djoko Murjatmodjo, Indonesia’s acting director general of transportation, said at a news conference in Surabaya that the pilots had asked to ascend to 38,000 feet because of clouds. Minutes later, the official said, the plane went missing from the radar. Indonesian officials said there was no distress signal from the cockpit. |
| Although Indonesian officials placed the lost contact at 6:17 a.m., Singapore authorities and AirAsia in an initial statement placed it at 6:24 a.m. — a difference in time that has not been explained. | Although Indonesian officials placed the lost contact at 6:17 a.m., Singapore authorities and AirAsia in an initial statement placed it at 6:24 a.m. — a difference in time that has not been explained. |
| The plane was still under the control of Indonesia Air Traffic Control when it lost contact. | The plane was still under the control of Indonesia Air Traffic Control when it lost contact. |
| The flight took off early Sunday from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, with 155 passengers, two pilots, one engineer and four flight attendants, according to AirAsia. | The flight took off early Sunday from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, with 155 passengers, two pilots, one engineer and four flight attendants, according to AirAsia. |
| All but six passengers and crew members were Indonesian, the airline said; three were South Korean, and there were also individuals from Malaysia, France and Singapore on board. The passengers included 16 children and one infant. | All but six passengers and crew members were Indonesian, the airline said; three were South Korean, and there were also individuals from Malaysia, France and Singapore on board. The passengers included 16 children and one infant. |
| Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that he called Indonesian President Joko Widodo to offer his country’s assistance. Malaysia and Australia also offered to help. | Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that he called Indonesian President Joko Widodo to offer his country’s assistance. Malaysia and Australia also offered to help. |
| White House spokesman Eric Schultz said President Obama, who was on vacation in Hawaii, “has been briefed on AirAsia Flight 8501 and White House officials will continue to monitor the situation.” | White House spokesman Eric Schultz said President Obama, who was on vacation in Hawaii, “has been briefed on AirAsia Flight 8501 and White House officials will continue to monitor the situation.” |
| Secretary of State John F. Kerry, in a tweet, said, “Our hearts and hopes are with the passengers and families of AirAsia QZ8501.” | |
| “Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers,” AsiaAir’s chief executive, Fernandes, wrote on Twitter, “we must stay strong.” He later tweeted that he was headed to Surabaya and would provide “information as we get it.” | “Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers,” AsiaAir’s chief executive, Fernandes, wrote on Twitter, “we must stay strong.” He later tweeted that he was headed to Surabaya and would provide “information as we get it.” |
| A spokesman for the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, Terry Williams, said, “We are aware of the missing airplane and are monitoring the situation.” Williams said that, if asked, the agency would provide assistance to investigators. | |
| In April, AirAsia officials apologized for a column in the company’s in-flight magazine, which boasted that the carrier’s pilots would never lose a plane because of their “continuous and very thorough” training. “Rest assured that your captain is well prepared to ensure your plane will never get lost,” the column said, according to the Associated Press. | In April, AirAsia officials apologized for a column in the company’s in-flight magazine, which boasted that the carrier’s pilots would never lose a plane because of their “continuous and very thorough” training. “Rest assured that your captain is well prepared to ensure your plane will never get lost,” the column said, according to the Associated Press. |
| AirAsia Executive Chairman Kamarudin Meranun expressed “deep regret and remorse” for the article, which went to press before Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared. After social media backlash, the issue of travel 3Sixty magazine was immediately withdrawn by the airline, according to AP. | AirAsia Executive Chairman Kamarudin Meranun expressed “deep regret and remorse” for the article, which went to press before Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared. After social media backlash, the issue of travel 3Sixty magazine was immediately withdrawn by the airline, according to AP. |
| “Once again, apologies,” Fernandes tweeted at the time. “It has been a difficult time for all in the industry.” | “Once again, apologies,” Fernandes tweeted at the time. “It has been a difficult time for all in the industry.” |
| Du Lac reported from Washington. | Du Lac reported from Washington. |