Bad weather continues to hinder the efforts of a multinational team of planes, ships and personnel in the search for AirAsia QZ8501, which crashed into the Java Sea off Kalimantan on Dec 28.
All times listed are Singapore time. Refresh this page for updates.
8.43PM: AirAsia confirms that the remains of the eight passengers identified today were handed over to their families this afternoon.
7.38PM: Authorities say QZ8501 tail is 10metres in length, and would suggest it is structurally intact, according to our reporter.
7.28PM: Six ships are now within proximity of the plane's tail. Divers face visibility of two to three metres and underwater current of two knots. Search authorities also confirm that a signal was detected in the tail, but divers could not re-detect that signal, Channel NewsAsia's Jack Board reports. The tail is in 30-metre deep water.
7.21PM: A salvage vessel from Batam will take 24 hours to reach Pangkalan Bun to help with the search, according to BASARNAS' Director of Search Operations Supriyadi. The vessel is being brought in at the suggestion of Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Indroyono Soesilo.
7.15PM: Six boats were deployed today to help retrieve the plane's tail, Reuters reports.
6.41PM: A big storm just passed through Pangkalan Bun and is now on its way to the #QZ8501 search area, according to our reporter Jack Board.
6.00PM: Another body retrieved earlier today has arrived in Pangkalan Bun. A total of 41 bodies have been recovered to date.
5.46PM: Three weekly AirAsia Indonesia Bandung-Singapore flights have been temporarily suspended by the Indonesian Transport Ministry "for further evaluation to align to flight schedules and rotations with Indonesian regulations", according to an airline spokesperson.
5.12PM: At a press conference, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Indroyono Soesilo revealed that eight more bodies recovered from the QZ8501 search site - five females and three males - have been identified today, which is the most number of identifications in a single day.
The passengers identified are:
1. Sri Ratri Andriani, Female, 30, from Surabaya
2. Ruth Natalia M Puspitasari, Female, 26, Blitar
3. Jou Christine Yuanita, Female, 62, Surabaya
4. Soetikno Sia, Male, 60, Surabaya
5. Rudy Soetjipto, Male, 54, Malang
6. Nico Giovanni, Male, 17, Surabaya
7. Indahju Liangsih, Female, 17, Surabaya
8. Stephanie Yulianto, Female 14, Probolinggo
2. Ruth Natalia M Puspitasari, Female, 26, Blitar
3. Jou Christine Yuanita, Female, 62, Surabaya
4. Soetikno Sia, Male, 60, Surabaya
5. Rudy Soetjipto, Male, 54, Malang
6. Nico Giovanni, Male, 17, Surabaya
7. Indahju Liangsih, Female, 17, Surabaya
8. Stephanie Yulianto, Female 14, Probolinggo
He also said Indonesia will use an autonomous underwater vehicle to recover the plane’s tail. If the object is too large, a crane that can hoist 250 tonnes of weight will be used. The black box will be sent to Jakarta when it is found, he added.
BASARNAS Director of Search Operations SB Supriyadi says he expects more bodies to be found when recovering the plane's tail.
4.32PM: Government officials, including Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan and Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Indroyono Soesilo, arrive in Pangkalan Bun. There will be a briefing soon, according to our reporter on the ground, Jack Board.
4.26PM: AirAsia Indonesia's President Director Sunu Widyatmoko says he will comply with Transport Ministry regulations that cite that families of passengers are eligible to US$99,400 (S$132,707) compensation, according to our reporter Devianti Faridz.
4.17PM: Nurcahyo, an investigator with Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee, says he is "fairly confident" the black box will be found. He added there are contingency plans in place should it not be recovered.
3.47PM: There are 19 days left before QZ8501's flight data recorder, or black box, stops emitting signals. The black box - usually stored in the tail section of Airbus A320-200 airliners - has a locator which can emit signals for up to 30 days when underwater.
3.15PM: According to the manifest, the bodies recovered so far are of passengers sitting in various parts of the plane, says the investigator Nurcahyo.
3.00PM: QZ8501 was on a left roll when it made impact with the water, says the investigator, adding that the conclusion was made based on the damage to debris recovered.
2.34PM: Indonesia's tvOne broadcasts images purportedly showing the tail section of QZ8501 underwater.
1.58PM: The tail of QZ8501 was spotted by an Indonesian geo-survey ship, and the object spotted has "PK-AXC" written on it - the code of the aircraft. The object was also confirmed with a remotely-operated vehicle sent to make the inspection.
1.50PM: The body of a victim has been found and is being recovered by an Indonesian tugboat, say Indonesian officials. In total, 41 bodies have been recovered so far.
1.36PM: If the aircraft tail is found, the black box should be there, says AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes. The tail was located 30km from the suspected crash site and 95 divers are on standby for recovery, according to our reporter.
1.30PM: A body has been found and recovered by Indonesian vessel Banda Aceh, says BASARNAS. A total of 40 bodies have been recovered.
1.13PM: The tail of the aircraft has been found, says the chief of Indonesian search and rescue agency BASARNAS.
12.19PM: The bodies of two victims have arrived in Surabaya for identification. A total of 39 bodies have been recovered so far.
11.52AM: Volunteers turn up in droves at the Surabaya crisis centre to help, offering massages, food and psychological support to family members, search personnel and the media.
"As social creatures, we have to help our fellow man."
Agung Budi Setyawan, a psychiatrist appointed by the Surabaya city government, said the loved ones of the victims need support:
"If they are sad and do not have any risk of mental health disorder and remain calm, all we need to do is be their friends, accompany them and give them support."
11.07AM: A local businessman, Faiz, has offered free laundry service for all search personnel, media and support staff at Pangkalan Bun.
10.40AM: Singapore's Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen has written to his Indonesian counterpart Ryamizard Ryacudu to reaffirm Singapore's continued support for the search for flight QZ8501.
In a letter to General Ryamizard, Dr Ng said Singapore's C-130 planes have returned to base, replaced by ships with more appropriate means to detect plane parts and bodies.
"The SAF recognises the importance of locating and recovering the fuselage and black box, which can provide vital information to explain the cause of this accident. This may help provide closure to family members and prevent future accidents," Dr Ng wrote.
10.05AM: Authorities in Pangkalan Bun prepare to see off the bodies of two victims. They will be sent to Surabaya for identification.
8.41AM: The search operation has resumed with conducive early weather conditions, according to Channel NewsAsia reporter Jack Board, who is at Pangkalan Bun.
8.26AM: Search sectors for Wednesday have been adjusted, with the establishment of two new sectors, said Malaysia Chief of Navy Abdul Aziz Jaafar.
6.48AM: The RSS Kallang has been experiencing poor weather and rough seas, which affects the underwater search for debris. "Despite unfavourable conditions, our sailors remain focused and are working hard to do their best," said CPT Koh Wee Seng, Operations Officer of RSS Kallang.
Like Page
6.39AM: In its latest statement, AirAsia said cloudy weather, light rain, waves at 2 to 3 metres, strong underwater currents and poor visibility are hindering search operations. The airline also confirmed that the remains of Indra Yulianto, Hindarto Halim and Jou Brian Youvito, who were identified on Tuesday, have been handed over to their respective families.
.jpg)
