AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501 missing / crashed

[Conti764]

To me this sounds very similar to the Air France 447 crash all over again! Will wait and see when we get more information.

If true, what might it mean for Airbus?

Looks like someone doesn't know what the factors were which played a huge role in the Air France 447 crash.

Faulty pitot tubes due to severe weather conditions resulting in erroneous input in the cockpit, a confused crew and a plane ditching in the Atlantic...

If - and that's still a big If, but what else but speculating can you do on an aviation forum when the plane is not even found, let alone the final results of the investigation are known - you'd have another (Airbus) plane getting in major trouble and even ditch in the sea due to severe weather conditions, it means that Airbus has to come up with something that might cost them a small fortune.

But again, I'm merely asking a question 'what if'...

[Conti764]

As far as I remember the blame for that crash was mainly on the pilots, their total lack of knowing what was going on, pulling up while they were in a continuous stall and Thales(?) that was partly blamed for the design of their pitot tubes which was too vulnerable for icing?

So if it's a similar situation to the AF447 one, I don't think Airbus will be the one to blame for it.

I'm not pointing any fingers and I know Airbus makes very decent aircraft, I am merely wondering what repercussions it might have for Airbus, for example if they'd have to update all pitot tubes which might be dangerous in certain conditions on all or most Airbusses that are active around the world...

[Conti764]

It was very stormy, it was climbing from FL320 to FL380.

Are you sure it was climbing? To my knowledge, the pilots asked for authorisation to climb, but ATC refused.

Wasn't there a radar image screenshot which indicated that the plane was only flying 350 kts or so on FL360?

[Conti764]

The pilot community is very informed about the AF447 accident. It's unlikely any pilot would repeat their mistakes.

Commercial aircraft wings are designed for 6G positive loads, but only about 2-3G negative loads. If they entered clouds that were too much for the aircraft to handle then it could have caused catastrophic structural failure.
However, they have had an entire day to search for a field of debris. A plane coming down from that altitude and with structural failure would have resulted in a very large debris field. See MH17. In addition, the ELT and ULB would have been easy to track if this is what happened, unless they are totally incompetent.

The bomb scenario has some credibility to it.

Or:it could be another MH370.
This happened less than an hour flying from MH370's last known position.
I still believe that MH370 was either hi-jacked to West-China or its contents offloaded in the Strait of Malacca before it was sent on to a final resting location (the Southern arc). The pirates in Malacca might have found a new stream of revenue after their sea operations have been compromised....

Or it stands in that same Diego Garcia hangar like 9M-MRO and 9M-MRC/D?

[luchtzak]

No new news so far ....

From http://qz8501.airasia.com/index.html

AirAsia Indonesia Flight QZ8501

As of 29 December 2014 10.30 AM LT (GMT+7)

AirAsia Indonesia has 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).

Family members of QZ8501, please contact:
Malaysia: +60 3 21795959
Indonesia: +62 2129270811
Singapore: +65 63077688
Korea: 007 98142069940

Note: Hotline is strictly for family members only

We will release further information as soon as it becomes available and our thoughts and prayers are with those on board QZ8501.

[Passenger]

DigitalGlobe (satellite photo's) asks for help in their search:

http://www.tomnod.com/campaign/airasiajava2014/

[Treeper]

It was very stormy, it was climbing from FL320 to FL380.

Are you sure it was climbing? To my knowledge, the pilots asked for authorisation to climb, but ATC refused.

Wasn't there a radar image screenshot which indicated that the plane was only flying 350 kts or so on FL360?

see first page. It appears they were climbing through FL363.

[sn26567]

They found it!

Indonesia finds bodies, debris in search for missing jet

Indonesian rescuers saw bodies and luggage off the coast of Borneo island on Tuesday and officials said they were "95 percent sure" debris spotted in the sea was from a missing AirAsia plane with 162 people on board.



Pictures of floating bodies were broadcast on television and relatives of the missing gathered at the crisis center in Surabaya were shown weeping, their heads in their hands.

Media quoted an air force official earlier as saying one suspected body, luggage and a life vest were among the debris in the Java Sea.

Djoko Murjatmodjo, acting director general of air transportation at the transportation ministry, told reporters some of the debris spotted was red and white, AirAsia's colors.

Full story from Reuters

Statement from Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia: "My heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ 8501. On behalf of AirAsia my condolences to all. Words cannot express how sorry I am."

[sn26567]

A lot of boats are participating in the Search and Rescue operation. This gives a chart similar to that of FR24



As of now, some 40 bodies have already been recovered.

[Passenger]

What a disaster for Air Asia. And then, this just happened to them:

http://www.rappler.com/nation/79398-air ... ibo-runway

http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/960/Buitenland ... jnen.dhtml

[sn26567]

AirAsia Indonesia Flight QZ8501 Update (as of 30 December 2014 18:00 PM (GMT+7)

SURABAYA, 30TH DECEMBER 2014 – AirAsia Indonesia regrets to inform that The National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia (BASARNAS) today confirmed that the debris found earlier today is indeed from QZ8501, the flight that had lost contact with air traffic control on the morning of 28th.

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. Also on board were 2 pilots, 4 cabin crews and one engineer.

At the present time, search and rescue operations are still in progress and further investigation of the debris found at the location is still underway. AirAsia Indonesia employees have been sent to the site and will be fully cooperating with BASARNAS, National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC), and relevant authorities on the investigation.

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.”

Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia added: “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.”

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

Further information will be released as soon as it becomes available. An emergency call centre has been established and available for families seeking information. Family members of QZ8501, please contact:

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

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and friends of our passengers and colleagues on board QZ8501.

[Flanker2]

It's ridiculous that it took them 2 days to find the bodies and wreckage.
If there were survivors, they would have been killed by the elements.

Tony Fernandes is a great CEO. Probably one of the few who cares about lives in this industry.
He has dropped all of his other duties to focus on this accident.

[sn26567]

AIRASIA INDONESIA FLIGHT QZ 8501
Airbus Media Information (Issue 2)
30 December 2014

Airbus has been informed by the Indonesian authorities that the accident site of flight QZ 8501 has been located.

The company wishes to offer the sincere sympathies of its management and staff to all those who have been affected by the loss of this aircraft.

In line with international convention, the official investigation into this accident is being led by the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC), which will be supported by relevant international safety agencies. These include the French safety investigation authority BEA, which is an accredited party representing the state of design and manufacture of the aircraft.

The release of all further information related to the progress of the investigation and the publication of findings will be undertaken by the NTSC.

With safety as its prime concern, Airbus reaffirms its full commitment to provide all necessary technical assistance to the investigation authorities in order to establish the cause of this tragic accident.

[teddybAIR]

It's ridiculous that it took them 2 days to find the bodies and wreckage.

I think people still underestimate the difficulty in locating aircraft wreckage of flights that crashed in the middle of an ocean. Apparently we're all conditioned to think technology will solve any problem we deam important enough.
Unfortunately, we have to admit that the current level of technology still does not allow us to locate that wreckage with sufficient accuracy to find it in a matter of hours.

[sn26567]

Many interesting graphs on this page:
http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/14/a ... index.html

One of them particularly struck me: the one showing that QZ8501 was flying lower than other airliners in the vicinity, including two other AirAsia jets on a similar route.

[Lysexpat]

One of them particularly struck me: the one showing that QZ8501 was flying lower than other airliners in the vicinity, including two other AirAsia jets on a similar route.

Altitude was clearly limited by traffic as you can see in the same picture.

[sn26567]

The first 2 bodies from the AirAsia QZ8501 crash have arrived in Surabaya, where relatives were waiting.


Picture BBC

Full report from BBC: http://bbc.in/1HZP8FA

Indonesia Search and Rescue team says that one body from the AirAsia plane was wearing life jacket.

Full report from Reuters: http://reut.rs/13IH92a

Indonesian sonar data show the suspected body of the AirAsia A320 plane upside down on the sea floor.
Full report from Reuters: http://reut.rs/13IpQOJ

[sn26567]

AirAsia Indonesia Flight QZ8501 Update (as of 31 December 2014 8:00 PM (GMT+7)

SURABAYA, 31st DECEMBER 2014 – AirAsia Indonesia wishes to update that The National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) Republic of Indonesia and other relevant authorities continue to search and recover the passengers of QZ 8501 in the Karimata Strait area.

Earlier today, Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia and AirAsia management visited the military base in Pangkalan Bun to meet with key stakeholders of the SAR operations. Fernandes met with Deputy Governor of Central Kalimantan, Achmad Diran; Deputy of Potential Search And Rescue (SAR), Marsekal Muda TNI Sunarbowo Sandi; Joint Operation Chief Territory II, Marsekal Muda TNI Abdul Muis; Joint Operation Chief Territory I, Marsekal Muda TNI Agus Dwi Putranto; Central Kalimantan Police Chief, Brigadier General Hermanu and Deputy of Operation Search And Rescue (SAR), Marsekal Pertama TNI Supriyadi.

Fernandas said: “I continue to be humbled and touched by the incredible efforts and professionalism put forth by BASARNAS, Army, Navy, Air Force and Police of Indonesia. The search and rescue operations were unfortunately hampered by bad weather today but I am hopeful they will be able to resume the search tomorrow.”

To date, BASARNAS has confirmed to have recovered a total of seven remains, which were transported to the military base in Pangkalan Bun, Borneo. Two of the seven remains were transported to Bayangkara Hospital in Surabaya for identification by Disaster Victim Identification of Police Department Republic of Indonesia (DVI POLRI).

AirAsia’s main focus remains on the wellbeing of the families affected by this tragedy.

Further information will be released as soon as it becomes available. An emergency call centre has been established and available for families seeking information.

Family members of QZ8501, please contact:
Malaysia: +60 3 21795959
Indonesia: +62 2129270811
Singapore: +65 63077688
Korea: 007 98142069940

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and friends of our passengers and colleagues on board QZ8501.

[Passenger]

AIRASIA INDONESIA FLIGHT QZ 8501
Airbus Media Information (Issue 2)
30 December 2014
...
Airbus has been informed by the Indonesian authorities that the accident site of flight QZ 8501 has been located.
...

The aircraft (= the fuselarge) has not been found yet:

"...On Dec 31st 2014 the chairman of Indonesia's Search and Rescue Service stated in an evening press conference, that earlier reports about the fuselage having been located have been incorrect, the search is still ongoing, so far - referring to a report by CNN hitting global headlines - there are no sonar images of the fuselage as well. All valid information concerning QZ-8501 only and only comes from one source, namely the Search and Rescue Service which is currently in charge of the entire operation, the chairman stated with reference to the current information chaos..." (quote from The Aviation Herald)

[sn26567]

Thirty bodies have now been recovered in the sea, four of which have been identified.


Picture BBC

The search for AirAsia flight QZ8501 which crashed into the sea on Sunday has moved underwater, with the arrival of a French crash investigation team using sensitive acoustic detection devices to try to locate the plane and its "black box" flight recorders.

Some investigators are reported to believe that the plane may have gone into an aerodynamic stall as the pilot climbed steeply to avoid a storm. The plane was travelling at 32,000ft when it requested to climb to 38,000ft to avoid bad weather. When air traffic controllers consented to allow it to climb to 34,000ft a few minutes later, they got no reply.

Meanwhile, AirAsia Indonesia has published a new update of its news release:

AirAsia Indonesia Flight QZ 8501 Update (as of 2 January 2015 21:00 PM (GMT+7)

SURABAYA, 2nd JANUARY 2015 – The Disaster Victim Identification Police Department of Republic of Indonesia (DVI POLRI) today confirmed that the remains of three more passengers on board QZ 8501 were identified as Grayson Herbert Linaksita (male), Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi (female), and Kevin Alexander Sutjipto (male).

The handover of the remains from AirAsia to the families took place earlier today at Bhayangkara Hospital, Surabaya.

Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi was one of the flight attendants on board QZ 8501, and has been with AirAsia Indonesia since 28 January 2013. Khairunisa was well known for her professionalism as well as dedication at work.

Group CEO of AirAsia, Tony Fernandes together with Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of AirAsia Berhad, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and CEO of AirAsia Indonesia, Sunu Widyatmoko flew to Palembang today to officially handover the remain of Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi to her family and attended her burial.

To date, DVI POLRI team has identified four remains of QZ 8501 passengers. A total of twenty two remains of QZ 8501 passengers have been recovered.

AirAsia would like to take this opportunity to urge the public seeking for progress on the search and evacuation of QZ 8501 passengers to refer solely to official information from the National Search and Rescue Agency.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and friends of our passengers and colleagues on board QZ 8501.