JAKARTA, December 28 (Sputnik) — Indonesian Ministry of Transportation is not ready to confirm information about the crash AirAsia's aircraft, the ministry's Air Transport Director Djoko Murjatmodjo said Sunday.
I am touched by the massive show of support especially from my fellow airlines. This is my worse nightmare. But there is no stopping.
— Tony Fernandes (@tonyfernandes) 28 декабря 2014
According to the statement issued by AirAsia, air traffic control lost contact with flight QZ8501 at 07:24 local time (00:24 GMT). There were 155 passengers on board, including 17 children, two pilots and five cabin crew. Most passengers on board were Indonesian; three passengers were South Koreans, and one French, Malaysian and Singaporean.
Very sad to hear that AirAsia Indonesia QZ8501 is missing. My thoughts are with the families. Malaysia stands ready to help.
— Mohd Najib Tun Razak (@NajibRazak) 28 декабря 2014
The plane was operated by an Indonesian captain, who had a substantial number of flying hours a total of 6,100, and a French co-pilot with a total of 2,275 flying hours, according to AP.
Search and rescue operations are being conducted under the guidance of the Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). AirAsia Indonesia is assisting the investigation.
Reports in Indonesia that Australia is sending three RAAF P-3 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft to search for the missing #AirAsia plane
— Michael Bachelard (@mbachelard) 28 декабря 2014
At Surabaya airport, from where the plane took off, passengers' relatives sat, waiting in a room, many of them in tears and talking on their phones, AP said.
Latest on missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501 from @WSJ http://t.co/9GlSQPWkLY (Pic: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY) pic.twitter.com/rlkbJ0EfgJ
— Paul Dyer (@RayDuple) 28 декабря 2014
AirAsia Indonesia operates domestic flights within the Indonesian archipelago and international flights to Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Thailand. The company is an affiliate of the Malaysian company AirAsia. In 2007, AirAsia Indonesia was banned from operating flights to the European Union (EU) due to safety concerns; however, the ban was lifted in July 2010, the BBC reports.
