Missing AirAsia flight QZ8501: Live updates as major search operation for passenger plane resumes
The AirAsia flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore lost contact with air traffic control late on Saturday night
A major search operation has been launched after an AirAsia passenger plane went missing as it flew from Indonesia to Singapore. Here's what we know so far:
- AirAsia flight QZ8501 lost contact with air traffic control at 7.24am. There were 162 people on board - 155 passengers, and 7 crew members. The plane was last seen between the Indonesian island of Belitung, and Pontianak in Borneo. There was bad weather over Belitung at the time.
- One Brit was among those on board - named as businessman Chi Man Choi. It is believed he was travelling with his two-year-old daughter Zoe.
AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes says his 'heart bleeds' for relatives of crew and passengers on board Flight QZ8501
AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes says his "heart bleeds" for the relatives of the crew and passengers on board missing Flight QZ8501.
The airline's chief executive wrote on Twitter: "Keeping positive and staying strong.
"My heart bleeds for all the relatives of my crew and our passangers.
"Nothing is more important to us."
Update: AirAsia releases new statement about disappearance of Flight QZ8501
AirAsia Indonesia has released a new statement about the disappearance of Flight QZ8501.
It reads in full: "AirAsia Indonesia received confirmation from The National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia (BASARNAS) that an international search and rescue mission from Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia has been mobilized in the search of flight QZ8501.
"The mission in Surabaya has resumed today at 06.00 AM LT (GMT+7).
"AirAsia Indonesia continue to support these efforts and has been actively cooperating with the search and rescue authorities.
AirAsia Indonesia's primary focus remains on the families and Sunu Widyatmoko, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Indonesia is currently stationed at the family centre in Surabaya.
"We have been keeping the families updated on the search and rescue efforts as well as provide emotional support.
"Another group of AirAsia officials are providing the same to the families based in Singapore.
"An emergency call centre has been established and available for families seeking information.
"The number is+622129270811 or 031-8690855 or 031-2986790 (Surabaya).
"We will release further information as soon as it becomes available and our thoughts and prayers are with those on board QZ8501."
More information about Malaysia's role in search operation
More information has emerged about Malaysia's role in the Indonesia-led search for missing Flight QZ8501.
The Indonesian authorities have asked the government in Kuala Lumpur to comb an area of 11,400 sq nautical miles around Belitung Island in the Java Sea.
The request from Jakarta was reported on Twitter by Malaysia's national news agency, Bernama.
China offers to send aircraft and ships to help find Flight QZ8501
China has offered to send aircraft and ships to help in the search for missing Flight QZ8501.
Beijing's Foreign Ministry said in a statement: "The Chinese side has already said to Indonesia that it is willing to urgently send aircraft and ships to participate in search and rescue, and will provide other aid according to Indonesian needs."
Singapore, South Korea and Australia are among the countries taking part in the Indonesia-led search for the aircraft.
Fisherman 'heard loud explosion' at around same time Flight QZ8501 disappeared from radar
A fisherman reportedly heard a loud explosion at around the same time Flight QZ8501 disappeared from radar on Saturday.
The man's claims are reported in a newspaper based on the Indonesian island of Belitung.
Pos Belitung quotes a fisherman off the coast of the eastern end of the island, who says he heard a loud bang between 7am and 8am local time.
However, other islanders remain unsure.
"I do not know what to make of the incident," one said.
"The newspaper said a fisherman had heard an explosion while at sea.
"But if there is an explosion, surely the authorities would have detected it.
"I say it is best that we do not draw into conclusions."
Indonesian government to review operations of AirAsia 'to make sure its performance can be better in the future'
Indonesia will review the operations of Indonesia AirAsia, the local unit of Malaysia's AirAsia, after Flight QZ8501 carrying 162 people went missing on Sunday.
"We will review AirAsia Indonesia to make sure its performance can be better in the future," Indonesian Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan told reporters on Monday.
"Much will be reviewed in terms of its business operations and in terms of air transportation business, so that there are safety improvements."
Shares in parent budget airline AirAsia fell more than 7.8 percent on Monday to 2.71 ringgit, the biggest one-day drop in more than three years.
Recap of events so far
Let's recap on the latest developments in this story.
The search for missing Flight QZ8501 resumed at first light this morning after the operation was suspended due to encroaching darkness on Sunday evening.
Today's search, which is being led by Indonesia, is focusing on an area of the Java Sea between the islands of Borneo and Java.
However, the chief of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency, Bambang Soelistyo, said the jetliner was likely "at the bottom of the sea".
And the country's vice-president Jusuf Kalla said there was a "huge possibility" that the missing plane had been in an accident.
There were 155 passengers and seven crew on board the Airbus 320-200, which disappeared while en route from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore on Saturday.
Pictured: Desperate families of passengers on board Flight QZ8501 waiting for information about their loved ones
This photo shows the desperate families of passengers on board Flight QZ8501 waiting for information about their loved ones.
The harrowing scenes unfolded in Indonesia as the search for the vanished jetliner continues.
The image was posted on Twitter by the New York Daily News.
South Korea to send surveillance plane to join search for Flight QZ8501
South Korea has said it will send a surveillance plane to join the Indonesia-led search for AirAsia Flight QZ8501.
A South Korean family of three was among the 155 passengers on board the jetliner, which disappeared on Saturday.
Seoul's foreign ministry said it plans to send the aircraft as early as Tuesday in support of Indonesia's search and rescue operation.
The foreign ministry added it has been in talks with six countries to get approval for the plane to pass through their airspaces.
Pictured: Indonesian Navy plane taking part in search for missing Flight QZ8501
This photo shows an Indonesian Navy plane taking off from Bintan Island during this morning's search for missing Flight QZ8501.
The picture was posted on Twitter by the People's Daily, China.
It was accompanied with a message, which read: "A plane of Indonesian Navy’s rescue team takes off from Bintan Island of Indonesia to search missing #QZ8501."
Flight QZ8501 is likely 'at the bottom of the sea'
Missing Flight QZ8501 is likely 'at the bottom of the sea,' according to Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency chief
Bambang Soelistyo told a press conference: "Based on the coordinates given to us and evaluation that the estimated crash position is in the sea, the hypothesis is the plane is at the bottom of the sea.
"That's the preliminary suspicion and it can develop based on the evaluation of the result of our search."
Passenger who boarded Flight QZ8501 joked 'goodbye forever' to pal hours before plane vanished
A passenger who boarded missing Flight QZ8501 joked "goodbye forever" to a pal hours before the plane vanished en route from Indonesia to Singapore.
The distraught friend, a man in his 20s, told Indonesia's TV One on Sunday: "This morning, before I went to pray, one of them called me and jokingly said: 'See you in the new year and goodbye forever'.
"That's all and then the bad news came."
The man said he had planned to go on the trip but cancelled it two weeks ago because he was busy.
"I have two friends who were with five family members," he said tearfully.
"Yes, I planned to spend (New Year's Day) in Singapore actually.
"I hope for a miracle and may God save them all.
"I should have gone with them but I cancelled it two weeks ago as I had something to do."
AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes leaves Surabaya and arrives in Jakarta
AirAsia chief executive Tony Fernandes has left Surabaya and is now in Jakarta, it is being reported.
CNN reporter Andrew Stevens revealed details of the QPR chairman's travels on Twitter.
Stevens tweeted: "#AirAsia chief Tony Fernandez has left Surabaya and now in Jakarta.
"Airline says will be updating families on search this morning."
Search focused on area of Java Sea between Borneo and Java
Today's search for Flight QZ8501 is focused on an area of the Java Sea between the islands of Borneo and Java.
According to Channel News Asia, the hunt will zone in on Pulau Momparang, Pulau Nangka and Pulau Lung.
Shares in AirAsia fall 11.6 percent after disappearance of Flight QZ8501
Shares in AirAsia fell 11.6 percent after Flight QZ8501 vanished in bad weather on Sunday.
The value of the Malaysia-based budget airline fell at the start of trade on Monday after Indonesia resumed its search for the missing jetliner at first light.
AirAsia fell as much as 12.9 percent to 2.56 ringgit at 0102 GMT, its lowest point since November 28.
The stock has gained 21.4 percent since the beginning of the year.
Indonesia AirAsia is 49 percent owned by Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia, with local investors holding the rest.
The AirAsia group, including affiliates in Thailand, the Philippines and India, has not had a crash since its Malaysian operations began in 2002.
Unread email saves family of 10 from boarding vanished plane
An Indonesian family reportedly missed boarding Flight QZ8501 after they failed to read an email from AirAsia advising them of a change in departure time.
Ari Putro Cahyono and nine members of his family would have boarded the Singapore-bound flight on Sunday had it not been for the unread message.
Ari said he and his relatives had arrived at Surabaya's Juanda International Airport at 5:30am - 10 minutes after QZ8501 departed.
The flight was originally scheduled to depart at 7:20am.
"I did not read the email notifying the change of the departure schedule," kompas.com quoted Ari as saying.
The operator had offered Ari the chance to board the next flight, but he refused after being informed at the airport that air traffic control had lost contact with QZ8501 at around 6.30am.
"My family and I then decided to cancel the trip," he said.
To read more, click here.
Today's Flight QZ8501 has landed safely in Singapore
Today's Flight QZ8501 has landed safely in Singapore.
The AirAsia plane landed at Changi Airport's Terminal 1 at 8.30am local time.
The search for yesterday's missing Flight QZ8501 resumed at first light today.
UPDATE: Today's #QZ8501 flight has landed safely at Changi Airport, Terminal 1 http://t.co/I9lXiR4BQ4pic.twitter.com/GGX6RFm4LO
— Channel NewsAsia (@ChannelNewsAsia) December 29, 2014
Malaysia opens 24-hour operations room
Malaysia has opened a 24-hour operations room to assist with the operation to find missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501.
In a statement, the country's Foreign Ministry said the round-the-clock centre can be contacted on +603-88874570 and +603-88892746.
The ministry added that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman spoke to his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi about the vanished plane.
"The Foreign Minister extended his sadness and prayers to the families and missing crew and passengers of flight QZ8501," said the statement.
Anifah also conveyed Malaysia's readiness to assist in the search and rescue operations conducted by the Indonesian authorities.
Statement: Latest update from AirAsia
This is the latest statement from AirAsia.
"Earlier in Surabaya, the management of AirAsia along with the Governor of East Java, National Search and Rescue Agency of Republic of Indonesia (BASARNAS), Airport Authority of Indonesia, Airport Operator (Angkasa Pura I) met with the members of the families to update them on the latest developments and reconfirmed their commitment to providing assistance in every possible way.
Sunu Widyatmoko, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia said: "We are deeply shocked and saddened by this incident.
"We are cooperating with the relevant authorities to the fullest extent to determine the cause of this incident.
"In the meantime, our main priority is keeping the families of our passengers and colleagues informed on the latest developments."
"We will do everything possible to support them as the investigation continues and have already mobilized a support team to help take care of their immediate needs, including accommodation and travel arrangements.
"A briefing center has also been set up in Surabaya for the families."
'There is a huge possibility that missing Flight QZ8501 has been in an accident'
The vice-president of Indonesia has said there is a "huge possibility" that missing Flight QZ8501 has been in an accident.
Jusuf Kalla told a televised press conference: "It has been 10 hours, there is a huge possibility there has been an accident.
"The government is concerned and expresses its deepest condolences to the families of victims."
Australia joins search for missing plane
Australia has joined the search for missing Flight QZ8501.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has deployed a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft to assist in the Indonesian-led search for the vanished AirAsia plane.
The patrol plane took off from Darwin this morning to join the search operations.
The Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, said: "The RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft has a well proven capability in search and rescue and carries maritime search radar coupled with infra-red and electro-optical sensors to support the visual observation capabilities provided by its highly trained crew members."
'We hope we can find the AirAsia plane soon'
An Indonesian official leading the hunt for missing Flight QZ8501 says he hopes it will be found soon.
Tatang Zainuddin, the deputy operations chief of the national search and rescue agency, said after the resumption of the search at first light: "We have resumed the search for the missing AirAsia plane at 6.00 am (11pm UK time).
"We are heading to east Belitung island.
"We are sending out four aircraft today to help locate the AirAsia plane.
"We hope we can find it soon.
"There will also be help from various search and rescue offices in the cities around the area."
Search for missing plane has resumed
The search for missing Flight QZ8501 has resumed.
The hunt for the vanished AirAsia plane recommenced after search and rescue operations had been suspended Sunday evening due to darkness.
Eight boats, two aircraft and three helicopters have reportedly been deployed to search for the missing plane.
Australia investigating whether any dual nationals on board missing flight
Australia is investigating whether any dual nationals were on board missing AirAsia flight Q78501.
The country's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said discussions are ongoing between her government and Indonesian authorities to confirm if there were any Australian dual nationals on the plane.
Ms Bishop told The Today Show that the nationalities of the passengers involved were still being double checked.
She said: "We understand there are no Australian citizens on board.
"We are looking for details of any potential dual nationals or permanent residencies or any linkages with Australia.
"At this stage we don't have those details but we are accessing the manifest from authorities."
Disappearance caps horrendous year for Malaysia-affiliated airlines
The incident caps a disastrous year for Malaysia-affiliated airlines.
Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 went missing on March 8 on a trip from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board and has not been found.
On July 17, the same airline's Flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged his people to pray for the safety of the passengers and crew. During his Sunday address at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, Pope Francis said those on board were in his prayers.
Louise Sidharta was at Singapore's Changi Airport waiting for her fiancée to return from a family holiday.
"It was supposed to be their last vacation before we got married," she said.
Search set to resume as morning breaks over crash area
The search for missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 is due to restart in the Java Sea as morning breaks off the coast of Indonesia.
The plane was carrying 162 people from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore when it disappeared on Sunday just after the pilot requested a change in course to avoid bad weather.
Dozens of friends and family of those on board the plane are waiting desperately for any updates about the the missing jet.
Singapore said it had sent two naval vessels to help the Indonesian military look for the Airbus A320-200 operated by Indonesia AirAsia,adding a C-130 air force plane took part in the search on Sunday.
Malaysia would send three naval vessels and a C-130 to assist, Singapore's Channel News Asia television reported. Australia, the United States, Britain, South Korea and India also offered help ranging from planes and navy ships to experts and investigators.
"We are deeply shocked and saddened by this incident," saidIndonesia AirAsia Chief Executive Sunu Widyatmoko. "We are cooperating with the relevant authorities to the fullest extent to determine the cause of this incident."
Watch Fox News presenter suggesting use of metric system may be linked to plane's disappearance
A Fox News presenter has appeared to suggest a link between the use of the metric system by 'foreign' pilots and the disappearance of flight QZ8501.
Anna Kooiman asked former FAA spokesperson Scott Brenner if the “real reason” the AirAsia plane had disappeared was because of the “different way other countries train their pilots.”
“Even when we think about temperature, it’s Fahrenheit or Celsius,” she pointed out. “It’s kilometers or miles. You know, everything about their training could be similar, but different.”
Image shows intense thunderstorms in area plane vanished
A series of severe thunderstorms were present in the area the AirAsia aircraft disappeared.
The pilot is reported to have requested permission to increase altitude in order to avoid one storm.
There was no distress call issued by Flight QZ8501, operated by Indonesian AirAsia, 49 percent owned by Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia, which has had no crashes since it started flying in 2002.
Singapore sends ships to help search
Singapore has sent two ships to help with the search for missing AirAsia flight QZ8501.
The vessels will join vessels and aircraft from a number of nations helping to find the passenger jet.
The search is officially set to resume at 6am local time on Monday.
Experts compare disappearance to vanished Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
Hours after the disappearance of QZ8501 aviation experts have begun comparing the incident with still-missing Malaysian Airlines MH370.
Like MH370, the AirAsia flight disappeared from radars and made no further communication with Air Traffic Control - not even an emergency “squawk”.
Yesterday aviation expert Peter Stuart Smith said it was strange that QZ8501 had made no further contact was made with Air traffic control.
“Even if we assume that the aircraft did encounter such incredibly adverse weather conditions that it broke up in midair or the conditions led to the pilots losing control, there are still a number of questions that need answering,” said Mr Smith.
“Obviously the first priority for the pilots is to fly the aircraft but relaying a message to Air Traffic Control (ATC) about what’s happening only involves depressing a single button on the control column and simply speaking.
“It would also only take a few seconds to squawk 7700 (emergency) on the SSR box which would alert ATC to there being a problem -although not what the problem was.”
Anxious wait for distraught relatives hunkered down at airport
More than 100 distraught relatives of passengers aboard missingAirAsia QZ8501 were hunkered down at a makeshift crisis centre at Indonesia's Surabaya airport in East Java on Sunday, waiting anxiously for news.
AirAsia Malaysia chief Tony Fernandes was at the airport himself trying to comfort the families, but the airline could offer little besides food, a hotel for the night and assurances that all was being done to find the lost plane.
"We've been given accommodation from AirAsia but I couldn't rest with this on my mind," said one man who gave his name as Haryanto and who has four relatives on board. He said he had been waiting at the airport for 10 hours.
Flights expert: 'Plane was flying 100 knots too slow'
A flights expert said the missing AirAsia plane was flying 100 knots (nautical miles per hour) slower than it should have been when it vanished.
Geoffrey Thomas, of airlineratings.com, told the BBC that radar plots showed the plane was flying at 353 knots.
Thomas said that although it was only speculation, it was possible the pilots may have lost air speed data because pitot tube instruments (which measure air speed) may have become iced up.
This is what is thought to have had happened when an Air France Airbus A330 crashed over the Atlantic Ocean in 2009, the BBC reports.
AirAsia group has had no previous fatal accidents involving its aircraft.
Aviation expert: Prognosis for missing passengers is 'not good'
An aviation expert has suggested that the prognosis for those onboard missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 is 'not good.'
David Learmount, operations and safety editor of Flight Global, said pilots routinely request diversions when faced with storms.
He said: "Storms can be very, very powerful indeed and rip a medium-sized aeroplane completely apart, that's why a pilot will routinely ask to divert around them.
“The plane could not still be airborne - it was a short-haul flight, there would be no fuel for staying in the air for quite as long as this."
He suggested it was unlikely those on board would have survived a sea landing, the Telegraph reports.
"I think the prognosis is not good," he said.
AirAsia CEO: 'We are cooperating with authorities to determine cause of disappearance'
Sunu Widyatmoko, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia said in a statement today that the company was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the jet's disappearance.
He said: "We are cooperating with the relevant authorities to the fullest extent to determine the cause of this incident. In the meantime, our main priority is keeping the families of our passengers and colleagues informed on the latest developments.
"We will do everything possible to support them as the investigation continues and have already mobilised a support team to help take care of their immediate needs, including accommodation and travel arrangements. A briefing center has also been set up in Surabaya for the families."
For the families in Singapore, AirAsia has set up an emergency briefing room at Changi International Airport Terminal Two, which will provide regular updates.
An Emergency Call Centre is also available for those seeking information about relatives or friends who may have been on board the flight. The number is +622129270811.
Pilots' union: 'Must be thorough investigation'
The head of the UK pilots' association has called for a thorough investigation into the disappearance of the AirAsia jet.
Jim McAuslan, general secretary of UK pilots' organisation Balpa, said: "Our immediate thoughts are with the relatives of the passengers and crew on board.
"It is not clear at this stage what caused the aircraft to lose contact, but there must be a full and thorough investigation to establish the root cause and make every flight safe."
Watch AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes at press conference
Giving a press conference at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes - owner of Premier League club QPR - said the aircraft was in 'good condition' and had 'never had any problems.'
"We're very devastated by what has happened. It's unbelievable," he said.
Fernandes said his main priority is to look after the loves ones of the passengers and crew on board missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501.
