Missing AirAsia Plane Wreckage found in Sea....2 bodies discovered

Debris from missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501 was found Tuesday, and two bodies were found nearby, authorities said Tuesday.

"AirAsia Indonesia regrets to inform that The National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia today confirmed that the debris found earlier today is indeed from QZ8501, the flight that had lost contact with air traffic control on the morning of 28th," the airline said in a statement.

"We are sorry to be here today under these tragic circumstances," said airline head Sunu Widyatmoko. "We would like to extend our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of those on board QZ8501. Our sympathies also go out to the families of our dear colleagues."

Two bodies have been sighted, Indonesian Navy official Manahan Simorangkir told CNN Tuesday. The body of a woman was recovered, but large waves have prevented crews from getting to the second body, Simorangkir said.

The bodies were not immediately identified.

Hospitals in the Indonesian city of Surabaya are being prepared to help house and identify bodies being recovered off the coast of Borneo.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/30/world/asia/airasia-missing-plane/

Family members of passengers on the ill-fated AirAsia Flight QZ8501 have received an offer to board an Indonesian naval ship to visit the plane's search location.

This is to "to lessen their sorrow and sense of loss", said Indonesia's armed forces chief Moeldoko on Monday.

They will be ferried from Surabaya, where the AirAsia crisis centre for relatives is located, to Pangkalan Bun via military flight.
- straitstimes

Indonesian military divers on Thursday day battled strong waves to reach the submerged tail section of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 in the murky depths of the Java Sea in the hopes of finding crucial black box.

Searchers on Wednesday found the tail section of the plane where the flight data and voice recorders are located. Divers were sent to the location and plunged into the waves. Down on the sea floor, they were able to take pictures of the wreckage.

One image appears to show an upside down “A” painted on a piece of metal. At least six ships with equipment that can detect underwater objects are working in the area where the tail of was spotted.

Smaller pieces of the plane, such as seats and an emergency door, had previously been collected from the surface. Powerful currents and murky water continue to hinder the operation.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/world/asia/airasia-flight-crash-divers-battle-strong-current-to-locate-black-box/#sthash.m39fT13y.dpuf