Debris from AirAsia QZ8501 Found in Karimata Strait

The National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia (BASARNAS) has confirmed that the debris and bodies found on Tuesday are from AirAsia QZ8501, the flight that lost contact with air traffic control on the morning of 28 December 2014.

The debris of the aircraft was found in the Karimata Strait, around 110 nautical miles south west from Pangkalan Bun.

The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC. There were 155 passengers on board, with 137 adults, 17 children and 1 infant. The crew consisted of 2 pilots, 4 cabin crew and 1 engineer.

Sunu Widyatmoko, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Indonesia said, “We are sorry to be here today under these tragic circumstances. 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.”

AirAsia Indonesia will be inviting family members to Surabaya, where a dedicated team of care providers will be assigned to each family. Counsellors, religious and spiritual personnel have also been invited to the family center to provide any necessary services.

Family members of passengers on AirAsia QZ8501 should contact the following numbers:

Malaysia: +60 3 21795959
Indonesia: +62 2129270811
Singapore: +65 63077688
Korea: 007 98142069940.

Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia said, “I am absolutely devastated. This is a very difficult moment for all of us at AirAsia as we await further developments of the search and rescue operations but our first priority now is the wellbeing of the family members of those onboard QZ8501.”

Related news: Cockpit Voice Recorder of AirAsia QZ8501 Lifted from Sea, SAR Divers Recover Flight Data Recorder of AirAsia QZ8501, Tail of AirAsia QZ8501 Lifted from Java Sea, SAR Divers Find Tail of QZ8501, Search for AirAsia QZ8501 Continues, Russian SAR Team Joins AirAsia QZ8501 Search, Debris from AirAsia QZ8501 Found in Karimata Strait and AirAsia Flight Goes Missing Between Surabaya and Singapore.

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