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Air search for missing AirAsia jet suspended Air search for missing AirAsia jet suspended
(about 4 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. BEIJING — A string of thunderstorms and clouds over the Java Sea on Sunday led one of the pilots of the now-missing AirAsia commercial jet carrying 162 people to ask to fly at a higher altitude. But his request could not be approved because of air traffic and a flight above his, an Indonesian Transport Ministry official told Kompas, the premier newspaper in Indonesia.
Indonesian authorities began and then had to suspend an air search for an AirAsia plane carrying 162 passengers and crew members after it lost contact Sunday morning with air traffic control. No distress calls were made, and aviation experts said the plane had a 90 percent chance of remaining safe. But the Transport Ministry official, Djoko Murjatmodjo, said that after the request was denied, “five minutes later [Flight QZ8501] disappeared from radar.”
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 because of bad weather and darkness. The air search was to be continued Monday morning. A huge search-and-rescue operation, with seven ships and two helicopters, will get underway as soon as day breaks Monday, according to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency.
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. The plane’s disappearance is the third air crisis this year for Southeast Asia — and an eerily familiar one, just nine months after a Malaysia Airlines jetliner disappeared over the Indian Ocean. That plane, with 239 people on board, is still lost. Another Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down over eastern Ukraine in July, and all 298 people aboard died.
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. 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.”
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. At first light Monday, the plan was to divide the search area into four broad sections measuring 120 by 240 nautical miles, the rescue agency said. The search may also extend to nearby land.
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. “It is a very broad search location,” the agency said. The effort was hampered Sunday night because of rough weather.
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. Malaysia will send three vessels, and Singapore will add at least one search plane, according to rescue officials. Australia and India also offered assistance.
While no one is sure if weather was the cause of the disappearance, it probably complicated things, according to AccuWeather.com senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, who said, “The storms in the area were capable of producing severe turbulence, strong wind shear, frequent lightning and icing.” December and January are the wettest months of the year in Indonesia, according to AccuWeather.
The AirAsia flight took off from the Indonesian city of Surabaya and was scheduled to land in Singapore at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
Instead of welcoming their loved ones Sunday morning, anguished and terrified relatives and friends gathered in crisis centers set up inside Juanda International Airport in Indonesia and Changi Airport in Singapore, desperately awaiting word of the lost plane.
Thousands of people across the world expressed support on Twitter and Facebook, or captured the shock with the message: “Not Again.”
Pope Francis prayed for the missing, according to Vatican Radio. Indonesian President Joko Widodo said his nation was “praying for the safety” of those on board.
Sunday afternoon, the airline changed the color of its logo on its Web site and social-media accounts from a festive holiday design to a shrouded, all-black bar.
AirAsia’s chief executive, Tony Fernandes, flew to Surabaya and later told a press briefing: “We are very devastated by what’s happened, it’s unbelievable.”
“Our concern right now is for the relatives and for the next of kin - there is nothing more important to us, for our crew’s family, and for the passengers’ families,” he said.
Those family members were rattled and in a state of panic.
Nias Adityas, a housewife from Surabaya, wept when she found the name of her husband, Nanang Priowidodo, 43, on the list. He was a tour guide and had been hired to take a family of four on a trip. He was relieved and happy to get the work.
“He just told me, ‘Praise God, this new year brings a lot of good fortune,’”Adityas told reporters who had gathered at the airport. “He apologized because he could not join us for the New Year celebration.”
Louise Sidharta, 25, of Indonesia told the media that she was awaiting news of her fiance, a 27-year-old entrepreneur called Alain and who she said was on board the flight along with five family members.
She and her partner had taken separate flights from Surabaya to Singapore. She only found out about the missing aircraft upon arriving in Singapore on a later flight, reported AFP.
“This was supposed to be his last trip with his family before we got married,” she added.
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 because of bad weather and darkness.
The flight 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 Surabaya and roughly an hour before its scheduled landing at Changi Airport, Indonesian authorities said.
AirAsia is a budget airline based in Malaysia, although the plane that lost contact belonged to AirAsia’s Indonesian affiliate.
AirAsia — a low-cost Asian carrier bought and relaunched in 2001 by 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 Flight QZ8501 had “a total of 6,100 flying hours and the first officer a total of 2,275 flying hours” under their belts.In a written statement, AirAsia said the captain of 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.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.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.
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 discrepancy 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 discrepancy that has not been explained.
The plane was under the control of Indonesia air traffic control when it lost contact.The plane was 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 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 Widodo to offer his country’s assistance. Malaysia and Australia also offered to help.
Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak tweeted: “Very sad to hear that AirAsia Indonesia QZ8501 is missing. My thoughts are with the families. Malaysia stands ready 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.”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.”
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.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. Wax-Thibodeaux reported from Washington.
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.”
Du Lac reported from Washington.