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AirAsia QZ8501: Indonesia reveals pilot's final call AirAsia QZ8501: Search zone for missing plane expanded
(about 2 hours later)
The pilot of missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 asked to take the plane higher in his last request to air traffic control, Indonesian officials say. The hunt for AirAsia flight QZ8501 has begun for a third day, with the search area now expanding far beyond the plane's original flight path.
He was given clearance two to three minutes later but made no reply. Countries around the region as well as the US, France and Australia are joining the search over the Java sea.
The Airbus A320-200, which was carrying 162 people, disappeared on Sunday shortly after leaving Surabaya in eastern Java on its way to Singapore. The Airbus A320-200, carrying 162 people, disappeared on Sunday shortly after leaving Surabaya in eastern Java on its way to Singapore.
Meanwhile, the US says Indonesia has asked for its help in the search, which is resuming as day breaks. The pilot's last contact was a request to divert around bad weather.
The US state department said it was considering the request but refused to say what kind of assistance Indonesia had asked for. Indonesian officials say air traffic control approved one request, then gave clearance to a second request two to three minutes later for the plane to climb.
No reply was received from the plane, which then disappeared from radar. No trace has been found despite a two-day search.
At the scene: Clive Myrie, BBC News, Surabaya
Indonesian officials are wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
President Joko Widodo shot down suggestions that debris and oil from the fuel tanks may have been discovered by saying: "We have to tell it like it is... So far our efforts haven't found clarity about the plane's position."
While some relatives will keep the fire of hope burning, there is the developing, devastating realisation for others that their loved ones will not be found alive.
It is an agony that people here are beginning to get used to as time drags on and optimism and hope ebb away.
Telling it straight about missing jet
On board the plane were 137 adult passengers, 17 children and one infant, along with two pilots and five crew.
Most were Indonesian but the passengers included one UK national, a Malaysian, a Singaporean and three South Koreans.
Pilot Capt Iriyanto had more than 20,500 flight hours, almost 7,000 of them with AirAsia. The co-pilot was French national Remi Emmanuel Plesel.
Thirty ships and planes resumed the search, with four more search areas added to existing seven patrols.
The multinational operation, led by Indonesia, has been joined by Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, with other offers for help from South Korea, China and France. The US destroyer USS Sampson is on its way to the zone.
Bambang Soelistyo, the head of Indonesia's search-and-rescue agency, told the Associated Press that military helicopters had been despatched to scour land over Borneo island.
"Until now, we have not yet found any signal or indication of the plane's whereabouts," he said.
On Monday, he said he suspected the aircraft was at the bottom of the sea, but there is so far no evidence of this.
The Indonesian air force said the search was seeking to establish whether an oil patch spotted off Belitung island - a busy shipping lane - was aviation fuel or from a ship.
'Then no reply''Then no reply'
On Monday night, state navigation operator AirNav Indonesia revealed the last communication the pilot of flight QZ8501 had had with air traffic control officials at Surabaya airport.
The plane had left Surabaya in eastern Java at 05:35 on Sunday (22:35 GMT Saturday) and had been due to arrive in Singapore at 08:30.The plane had left Surabaya in eastern Java at 05:35 on Sunday (22:35 GMT Saturday) and had been due to arrive in Singapore at 08:30.
Wisnu Darjono, AirNav safety director, said Captain Iriyanto, 53, requested permission to turn left at 06:12 to avoid a storm. The request was immediately granted and the plane changed course. Wisnu Darjono, AirNav safety director, said Capt Iriyanto, 53, requested permission to bank left at 06:12 to avoid a storm. The request was immediately granted and the plane changed course.
According to AirNav, the pilot then asked to take the plane from 32,000ft (9,800m) to 38,000ft but did not explain why he wanted to do so. According to state navigation operator AirNav Indonesia, the pilot then asked to take the plane from 32,000ft (9,800m) to 38,000ft but did not explain why he wanted to do so.
After speaking to their counterparts in Singapore, Indonesian air traffic control staff told the pilot he could take the plane to 34,000ft but no higher because another AirAsia airliner was flying at 38,000ft. Indonesian air traffic control staff told the pilot he could take the plane to 34,000ft but no higher because another AirAsia airliner was flying at 38,000ft.
"It took us around two to three minutes to communicate with Singapore," Mr Darjono said. "But when we informed the pilot of the approval at 06:14, we received no reply.""It took us around two to three minutes to communicate with Singapore," Mr Darjono said. "But when we informed the pilot of the approval at 06:14, we received no reply."
The plane was officially declared missing at 07:55.The plane was officially declared missing at 07:55.
It is unclear what happened next but one report suggests the plane may have tried to climb through the storm.It is unclear what happened next but one report suggests the plane may have tried to climb through the storm.
At the scene: Clive Myrie, BBC News, Surabya Former pilots say a climb could have led to reduced stability and possibly a fatal stall, as cross winds and down draughts battered the plane.
Indonesian officials are wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
President Joko Widodo shot down suggestions that debris and oil from the fuel tanks may have been discovered by saying: "We have to tell it like it is... So far our efforts haven't found clarity about the plane's position."
While some relatives will keep the fire of hope burning, there is the developing, devastating realisation for others that their loved ones won't be found alive.
It is an agony that people here are beginning to get used to as time drags on and optimism and hope ebb away.
It was the same feeling 10 years ago, when so many lost family and friends to the waters of the Indian Ocean after the Boxing Day tsunami.
Commemorative services were held here just a few days ago to mark the anniversary.
Telling it straight about missing jet
Former pilots say such a move could lead to reduced stability and possibly a fatal stall, as cross winds and down draughts batter the plane.
Captain Iriyanto had more than 20,500 flight hours, almost 7,000 of them with AirAsia. The co-pilot was French national Remi Emmanuel Plesel.
Search expanded
Dozens of planes and ships are due to search an area far beyond the AirAsia airliner's original flight path on Tuesday.
Bambang Soelistyo, the head of Indonesia's search-and-rescue agency, said he suspected the aircraft had crashed into the sea but so far no evidence has been produced.
The Indonesian air force said the search was seeking to establish whether an oil patch spotted off Belitung island was aviation fuel or fuel from a ship.
Australia, Malaysia and Singapore have joined the Indonesia-led search.
Intan, a 28-year-old whose brother was on flight QZ8501, said she hoped Indonesia would appeal for help to find the plane.
"Don't claim we have sophisticated technology, just ask other countries because they are better equipped," she told AFP news agency.
The AirAsia plane was delivered in 2008, has flown 13,600 times, completing 23,000 hours, and underwent its last maintenance in November.The AirAsia plane was delivered in 2008, has flown 13,600 times, completing 23,000 hours, and underwent its last maintenance in November.
AirAsia previously had no fatal accidents involving its aircraft. On board were 155 passengers, the company said in a statement: AirAsia previously had no fatal accidents involving its aircraft.
Are you, or is someone you know, affected by this story? Do you know any of the passengers on the AirAsia flight? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with any information. Please leave a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist.Are you, or is someone you know, affected by this story? Do you know any of the passengers on the AirAsia flight? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with any information. Please leave a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist.
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