SURABAYA, 17TH JANUARY 2015 – AirAsia Indonesia wishes to update on the latest developments on the search and rescue (SAR) operations led by the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) Republic of Indonesia.
The recovery mission of QZ 8501 aircraft main fuselage continued to be hampered by a thunderstorm that surrounded the primary search area with sea waves reported around 3 – 5 meters high. However, SAR divers and vessels were on standby in the area to continue the seafloor observation whenever possible.
In addition, the three passengers which were located in the sea near Sembilan Island, South Boreno –approximately 650 kms from the point in which the aircraft lost contact – have arrived at Bhayangkara Hospital, Surabaya this morning for identification purposes.
Meanwhile, the Disaster Victim Identification Police Department Republic of Indonesia (DVI POLRI) announced that five passengers have been identified as: Yenni Soewono (female), Kho Kusuma Chandra (male), Sesha Aldi Krisputra (male), Bob Hartanto Wijaya (male), Albertus Eka Surya Yulianto (male). AirAsia Indonesia officially handed over the passengers to their respective families this afternoon.
To date, BASARNAS has confirmed to have recovered a total of 51 remains of which 45 have been identified by DVI POLRI and 6 are still being identified.
AirAsia Indonesia would like to take this opportunity to urge the public seeking progress on the search and evacuation and identification process of QZ 8501 passengers to refer solely to official information from BASARNAS and DVI POLRI.
You may also obtain substantiated information only from authorised AirAsia social media accounts: Facebook (www.facebook.com/AirAsia ) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/AirAsia )
Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and friends of our passengers and colleagues on board QZ 8501.
AirAsia
*Article first appeared on https://www.facebook.com/notes/airasia/airasia-indonesia-flight-qz8501-u...