This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30654163

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
AirAsia QZ8501 underwater search to begin AirAsia QZ8501 underwater search to begin
(35 minutes later)
The search for AirAsia flight QZ8510 which crashed into the sea on Sunday is set to move underwater, with the arrival of specialist equipment.The search for AirAsia flight QZ8510 which crashed into the sea on Sunday is set to move underwater, with the arrival of specialist equipment.
A French crash investigation team will use sensitive acoustic detection devices to try locate the plane's "black box" flight recorder.A French crash investigation team will use sensitive acoustic detection devices to try locate the plane's "black box" flight recorder.
The Airbus A320-200 was flying from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore with 162 people on board when it vanished.The Airbus A320-200 was flying from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore with 162 people on board when it vanished.
No survivors have been found and the cause of the crash remains unknown.No survivors have been found and the cause of the crash remains unknown.
So far only 10 bodies have been found and brought ashore, with the search operation repeatedly held up by bad weather and rough seas. Several more bodies were located on Friday, bringing the total found to 16.
One person has been identified as passenger Hayati Lutfiah Hamid - her funeral was held in Surabaya on Thursday.One person has been identified as passenger Hayati Lutfiah Hamid - her funeral was held in Surabaya on Thursday.
The plane is almost certainly at the bottom of the Java Sea - several pieces of debris have been recovered but despite a massive five-day search the fuselage is still missing. Officials say most of the passengers could still be inside. The plane is almost certainly at the bottom of the relatively shallow Java Sea.
The BBC's Karishma Vaswani in Jakarta says the hope is that the French-led team will have better luck than existing searchers in locating the "pings" emitted by the so-called black box. Several pieces of debris have been recovered, including what is thought to be part of a wing flap.
This will help them locate the plane and, once retrieved, try to find answers as to what happened to it. But despite a massive five-day search the fuselage is still missing. Officials say most of the passengers could still be inside.
The head of Indonesia's search and rescue agency, Bambang Soelistyo, said on Friday that wreckage and bodies are spread over a 5km area of the Java Sea off Borneo. The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Pangkalan Bun on the Borneo coast - the nearest town to the suspected crash site - said there is a growing sense among search teams that their task is going to be harder than initially thought.
Bad weather and churning seas have dashed hopes of finding the plane visually, he says, and teams will now be relying on the sonar and listening equipment to scan the sea floor.
Locating the fuselage and the flight recorder will help answer the mystery of what happened to make the plane fall from the sky.
The head of Indonesia's search and rescue agency, Bambang Soelistyo, said on Friday that wreckage and bodies are spread over a 5km area of the Java Sea.
The search was now focussing on an area of 1,575 nautical square miles of the Java Sea off Borneo, he told reporters.The search was now focussing on an area of 1,575 nautical square miles of the Java Sea off Borneo, he told reporters.
"Divers are already on standby at the navy ship Banda Aceh to dive on that priority area to locate the body of the plane," he said. "I hope we'll get a significant result today.""Divers are already on standby at the navy ship Banda Aceh to dive on that priority area to locate the body of the plane," he said. "I hope we'll get a significant result today."
Journalists in Pangkalan Bun - the nearest town to the suspected crash site - were shown pictures on Friday of what officials said was part of a wing flap.
The official in charge of operations there, Supriyadi, said local fisherman were being encouraged to look out for wreckage.
'Unbelievably steep climb''Unbelievably steep climb'
There were 137 adult passengers, 17 children and one infant, along with two pilots and five crew, on the plane. The majority of those on board were Indonesians.There were 137 adult passengers, 17 children and one infant, along with two pilots and five crew, on the plane. The majority of those on board were Indonesians.
Some investigators are reported to believe that the plane may have gone into an aerodynamic stall as the pilot climbed steeply to avoid a storm.Some investigators are reported to believe that the plane may have gone into an aerodynamic stall as the pilot climbed steeply to avoid a storm.
Officials have said the plane was travelling at 32,000ft (9,750m) when it requested to climb to 38,000ft to avoid bad weather.Officials have said the plane was travelling at 32,000ft (9,750m) when it requested to climb to 38,000ft to avoid bad weather.
When air traffic controllers consented to allow it to climb to 34,000ft a few minutes later, they got no reply.When air traffic controllers consented to allow it to climb to 34,000ft a few minutes later, they got no reply.
A source quoted by Reuters said that radar data appeared to show that the aircraft's "unbelievably" steep climb may have been beyond the Airbus A320's limits.A source quoted by Reuters said that radar data appeared to show that the aircraft's "unbelievably" steep climb may have been beyond the Airbus A320's limits.
However, the unnamed source emphasised that more information was needed before a definitive conclusion could be reached.However, the unnamed source emphasised that more information was needed before a definitive conclusion could be reached.
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.
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.
Have your sayHave your say
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions.Read the terms and conditions.