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AirAsia QZ8501: 'Massive search' for victims and recorders AirAsia QZ8501: Bad weather hampers recovery of bodies
(about 3 hours later)
Recovery teams are launching a "massive search" in the Java Sea for victims of the AirAsia flight QZ8501 crash, as investigators look for the plane's crucial data recorders. Efforts to locate victims and wreckage of AirAsia flight QZ8501 which crashed into the Java sea in Indonesia on Sunday are being hampered by stormy weather and strong tides.
Indonesian officials have confirmed that remains and debris found in the waters off Borneo are from the plane.Indonesian officials have confirmed that remains and debris found in the waters off Borneo are from the plane.
Three bodies were found on Tuesday, the Indonesian authorities have confirmed. The authorities have confirmed that six bodies have now been retrieved.
The Airbus A320-200, carrying 162 people from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore, disappeared on Sunday.The Airbus A320-200, carrying 162 people from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore, disappeared on Sunday.
Crews on aircraft and ships are setting off to scan the sea as day breaks. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has promised a "massive search by the ships and helicopters" with the focus on recovering the bodies of victims.
President Joko Widodo promised a "massive search by the ships and helicopters" with the focus on recovering the bodies of victims. "I feel the loss from this tragedy and we all pray for the families to be given fortitude and strength," he said, speaking in Surabaya.
"I also feel the loss from this tragedy and we all pray for the families to be given fortitude and strength," he said, speaking in Surabaya. Aircraft from several countries were set to scan the sea in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Divers were also being deployed to search for bodies and for the plane's "black box" flight recorders.
Singapore has sent ships equipped with sensors to detect pings that may be emitted from the plane's black boxes. But officials said heavy rain and strong winds over the area had forced them to suspend the air operation, though ships already in place were continuing the search.
Malaysia, Australia and Thailand are also involved in the search. The US destroyer USS Sampson has been sent to the zone. The head of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency, Bambang Soelistyo, said six bodies had now been found. One was a woman wearing cabin crew uniform.
Confusion over numbers The bodies had been taken onto a ship and would be brought to the nearest town, Pangkalan Bun, as soon as the weather improved, he said.
There was confusion over the number of bodies pulled from the sea on Tuesday after the navy reported recovering more than 40. The navy had reported on Tuesday that more than 40 bodies had been recovered, but spokesman Manahan Simorangkir later told AFP news agency the figure had been a miscommunication by his staff.
Navy spokesman Manahan Simorangkir later told AFP news agency the figure of 40 had been a miscommunication by his staff. 'Shadow' under water
The figure of three was announced by the head of the search operation, Bambang Soelistyo. Flight QZ8501 went missing on Sunday on a routine flight from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore.
"I know the plane has crashed but I cannot believe my brother and his family are dead," Ifan Joko told the Associated Press news agency. He said he had lost seven relatives, three of them children, as they travelled to Singapore to celebrate the New Year.
Tributes have been paid to the pilot, Captain Iriyanto, an Indonesian national described as an experienced airman.
Friends described him as "professional and humble".
AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes said earlier support would be offered to the families of victims and search teams would work for a "speedy conclusion".
"It is a horrible, horrible experience but we will try and do our best," he said. "That's our focus right now.
Worst possible news
The first debris from the plane was spotted on Tuesday. Pictures of debris and bodies were shown on Indonesian TV.
Relatives of passengers on the plane watching the pictures were visibly shocked, with some collapsing.
An AirAsia statement on Tuesday said the remains were found in the Karimata Strait, south-west of Pangkalan Bun in the Borneo province of Central Kalimantan.
Bambang Soelistyo said a shadow had been spotted under the water, which appeared to be in the shape of a plane.
On board the plane were 137 adult passengers, 17 children and one infant, along with two pilots and five crew.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.Most were Indonesian but the passengers included one UK national, a Malaysian, a Singaporean and three South Koreans.
It is not yet clear what happened to the plane, but its last communication was a request from air traffic control to move up to avoid bad weather. The pilot never responded when given permission.
A three-day search ended on Tuesday when remains including aircraft parts, luggage and the bodies believed to be passengers were found in the Karimata Strait, south-west of Pangkalan Bun in the Borneo province of Central Kalimantan.
Bambang Soelistyo said a shadow had been spotted under the water, which appeared to be in the shape of a plane.
Pictures of debris and bodies were shown on Indonesian TV to distraught relatives waiting at Surabaya's Juanda international airport.
Those watching the pictures were visibly shocked, with some collapsing.
The search is being led by Indonesia but is a multinational effort. Singapore has sent ships equipped with sensors to detect pings that may be emitted from the plane's black boxes.
Malaysia, Australia and Thailand are also involved, while the US destroyer USS Sampson has been sent to the zone.
AirAsia previously had an excellent safety record and there were no fatal accidents involving its aircraft.AirAsia previously had an excellent safety record and there were no fatal accidents involving its aircraft.
The head of the airline, Tony Fernandes, said he was "absolutely devastated" and that the priority was on the wellbeing of passengers' families.
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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