The News Minute | December 30, 2014 | 1:30 pm IST
Reports suggest that the debris of the Air Asia plane that disappeared may have been found in the Java Sea after Indonesian officials told local TV that the bodies of some "victims" were spotted near the site where the Airbus went off the radar. The CEO of Air Asia, Tony Fernandes, is also flying to Surabaya.
BREAKING: Indonesian officials tell local TV 'victims' spotted near site where AirAsia plane disappeared.
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 30, 2014The AirAsia Airbus with 162 people on board disappeared on Sunday morning amid thunderstorms while on way from Indonesia to Singapore, prompting the military to launch a major search that was called off at dusk.
The aircraft took off at 5.20 a.m. (local time) from the Indonesian city of Surabaya and was to land at Singapore's Changi Airport at 8.30 a.m., the low-cost airline owned by an Indian-origin Malaysian and officials said.
According to BBC, Indonesian officials also added that some parts were found floating on the surface which were likely from the plane.
Objects spotted in #QZ8501 search area 95% likely to be from missing @AirAsia plane - Indonesian officials http://t.co/vYTpnLN6Ph
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) December 30, 2014There are also reports that objects resembling life jackets and life rafts were seen. The Indonesian army added that several victims were sighted.
MORE: Bodies found floating near where missing AirAsia flight last seen have been brought to Indonesian navy ship: http://t.co/hNmQMFyVGp
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 30, 2014VIDEO: Debris floating off Borneo island might be linked to AirAsia plane, Indonesia Search and Rescue says: http://t.co/LvdZIVhvzZ
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 30, 2014Indonesian officials had said the pilot sought an unusual route due to thunderstorms between Kalimantan and Belitung island, before the aircraft lost contact with the air traffic control.
The aircraft was then at 32,000 feet over Java Sea, in Indonesian territory.
AirAsia had released a statement following one of its aircraft’s disappearance on Sunday morning.
On its official website it said, “AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24 (Surabaya LT) this morning. The flight took off from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya at 0535hours.
The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC. There were two pilots, four flight attendants and one engineer on board.