This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/grim-airasia-search-for-bodies-hampered-by-storms/2014/12/31/01a74026-90b6-11e4-ba53-a477d66580ed_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Grim AirAsia search for bodies hampered by storms Grim AirAsia search for bodies hampered by storms
(about 1 hour later)
BEIJING — Fierce winds and storm-tossed seas off Indonesia sharply limited search missions Wednesday seeking to recover more bodies from the AirAsia crash and pinpoint the underwater wreckage of the jet that went down with 162 people aboard.BEIJING — Fierce winds and storm-tossed seas off Indonesia sharply limited search missions Wednesday seeking to recover more bodies from the AirAsia crash and pinpoint the underwater wreckage of the jet that went down with 162 people aboard.
Several more bodies were pulled from the Java Sea — including one wearing a red flight attendant uniform — and sonar images appeared to show parts of the plane that was lost Sunday. Several more bodies were pulled from the Java Sea — including one in a red flight attendant uniform — and sonar images appeared to show parts of the plane, which went missing Sunday.
But the harsh weather, including waves up to 10 feet high, played havoc over the operations. Officials eventually suspended the searches after helicopters were grounded and dive teams were held back. But the harsh weather, including waves up to 10 feet high, played havoc with the operations. Officials eventually suspended the searches after helicopters were grounded and dive teams were held back.
Conditions were forecast to worsen during the next two days, which could further restrict search efforts and increasingly complicate the hunt by sending wreckage and bodies drifting over a wider area. Conditions were expected to worsen in the next two days, which could further restrict search efforts and increasingly complicate the hunt by sending wreckage and bodies drifting over a wider area.
One of the search coordinators, Indonesian Vice Air Marshal Sunarbowo Sandi, said debris has floated as much as 30 miles in a day from the crash zone, about 100 miles southwest of the island of Borneo.One of the search coordinators, Indonesian Vice Air Marshal Sunarbowo Sandi, said debris has floated as much as 30 miles in a day from the crash zone, about 100 miles southwest of the island of Borneo.
Storms have been a constant backdrop as the tragedy unfolded during the wettest season in the region.Storms have been a constant backdrop as the tragedy unfolded during the wettest season in the region.
The pilot’s last radio contact was a request for a higher flight path in an apparent attempt to avoid rough weather. A report Wednesday cited radar readings that suggested the plane was in a steep climb before it crashed. The pilot’s last radio contact was a request for a higher flight path in an apparent attempt to avoid rough weather. A report Wednesday cited radar readings that suggested that the plane was in a steep climb before it crashed.
In total, seven bodies have been recovered: three men and four women, including a flight attendant trainee identified by local media as 20-year-old Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi.In total, seven bodies have been recovered: three men and four women, including a flight attendant trainee identified by local media as 20-year-old Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi.
The stormy weather prevented authorities from airlifting five of the recovered bodies from ships. The other remains were put into simple wooden coffins and flown to Surabaya, where the AirAsia flight took off early Sunday bound for Singapore. The stormy weather prevented authorities from airlifting five of the recovered bodies from ships. The other remains were put into wooden coffins and flown to Surabaya, where the AirAsia flight took off early Sunday bound for Singapore.
In a short ceremony, the two coffins — labeled 001 and 002 and topped with flowers — were escorted by honor guard from the airstrip in Surabaya, about 400 miles southeast of Jakarata. In a short ceremony, the two coffins — labeled 001 and 002 and topped with flowers — were escorted by honor guard from the airstrip in Surabaya, about 400 miles southeast of Jakarta.
Initial reports on Wednesday described one of the bodies recovered as wearing a life jacket, suggesting passengers had time to prepare for the crash. But officials later called the report erroneous. One search official told an Indonesia media outlet, Detik, that the body was found near a life jacket rather than wearing one. Initial reports Wednesday described one of the bodies recovered as wearing a life jacket, suggesting that passengers had time to prepare for the crash. But officials later called the report erroneous. One search official told an Indonesia media outlet, Detik, that the body was found near a life jacket rather than wearing one.
Since the crash, family members have gathered in Surabaya as their faint hope gave way to mourning. Prayer services have been held and many cities — including Surabaya — canceled or toned down New Year celebrations. Since the crash, family members have gathered in Surabaya as their faint hope gave way to mourning. Prayer services have been held, and many cities — including Surabaya — canceled or toned down New Year celebrations.
For many relatives, the new year began by giving DNA samples, medical records, family photos and information such as a tattoos and birth marks to possibly help identify the dead. Nearly all the passengers were Indonesian — some making holiday trips to Singapore. Many relatives began the new year by giving DNA samples, medical records, family photos and information such as a tattoos and birthmarks to help identify the dead. Nearly all the passengers were Indonesian, some making holiday trips to Singapore.
“Let us pray for the grieving families of those on board the plane,” Surabaya’s mayor, Tri Rismaharini, told crowds on a dizzily night as they joined candle-light memorial in a park. “Let us pray this will be the last tragedy for Surabaya.” “Let us pray for the grieving families of those on board the plane,” Surabaya’s mayor, Tri Rismaharini, told crowds at a candlelight memorial in a park. “Let us pray this will be the last tragedy for Surabaya.”
Meanwhile, technical crews scanned beneath the waves for signs of the Airbus A320-200, which is about 125 feet long and with a wing span of 112 feet. Meanwhile, technical crews scanned beneath the waves for signs of the Airbus A320-200, which is about 125 feet long and has a wing span of 112 feet.
Sonar images appeared to show a shape on the seabed — at a depth of between 80 to 100 feet — that could be part of the main wreckage, authorities said. The relatively shallow sea and clear water could play important roles in reaching what is left of the fuselage and possibly locating the flight recorders. Sonar images appeared to show a shape on the seabed — at a depth of 80 to 100 feet — that could be part of the main wreckage, authorities said. The relatively shallow sea and clear water could play important roles in helping reach what is left of the fuselage and possibly locating the flight recorders, or black boxes.
Their data could provide key clues in seeking the cause for the crash, which occurred moments after the pilot radioed for permission to climb to 38,000 feet in an apparent attempt to bypass turbulent weather. Their data could provide key clues to the cause of the crash, which occurred moments after the pilot radioed for permission to climb to 38,000 feet in an apparent attempt to bypass turbulent weather.
The pilot did not respond several minutes later after controllers gave permission to rise, but only to 34,000 feet, because of another aircraft on a higher route. The pilot did not respond a few minutes later after controllers gave permission to rise, but only to 34,000 feet, because another aircraft was on a higher route.
Radar records, however, suggest the plane made an “unbelievably” steep climb before it crashed, raising speculation that the aircraft could have stalled during the ascent, the Reuters news agency reported, citing a source familiar with the probe’s initial findings. Radar records, however, suggest that the plane made an “unbelievably” steep climb before it crashed, raising speculation that the aircraft could have stalled during the ascent, the Reuters news agency reported, citing a source familiar with the probe’s initial findings.
“So far, the numbers taken by the radar are unbelievably high. This rate of climb is very high, too high. It appears to be beyond the performance envelope of the aircraft,” the source was quoted by Reuters. “So far, the numbers taken by the radar are unbelievably high. This rate of climb is very high, too high. It appears to be beyond the performance envelope of the aircraft,” Reuters quoted the source as saying.
There was no immediate comment from Indonesian authorities. There was no comment from Indonesian authorities.
“Words cannot express how sorry I am,” AirAsia’s chief executive, Tony Fernandes, wrote in a tweet on Tuesday after debris and bodies were spotted. “Words cannot express how sorry I am,” AirAsia’s chief executive, Tony Fernandes, wrote in a tweet Tuesday after debris and bodies were spotted.
The small number of bodies recovered so far suggests that many may remain in the underwater wreckage. In the 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447, which many experts have compared the AirAsia situation, the majority of bodies were not recovered until authorities found the submerged fuselage. The small number of bodies recovered suggests that many may be in the underwater wreckage. In the 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447, which many experts have compared with the AirAsia situation, the majority of bodies were not recovered until authorities found the submerged fuselage.
The USS Sampson, a guided-missile destroyer, joined the search late Tuesday and has launched helicopters to help. U.S. defense officials said the USS Fort Worth is also ready to assist from its port in Singapore. The USS Sampson, a guided-missile destroyer, joined the search late Tuesday and has launched helicopters to help. U.S. defense officials said the USS Fort Worth also is ready to assist from its port in Singapore.
Murphy reported from Washington. Liu Liu and Gu Jinglu in Beijing contributed to this report.Murphy reported from Washington. Liu Liu and Gu Jinglu in Beijing contributed to this report.