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| Family members of passengers of missing AirAsia
Indonesia flight QZ8501 gather at Juanda international airport in
Surabaya in East Java on Dec 28, 2014, hours after news broke that the
flight went missing. PHOTO: AFP |
AirAsia flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore is believed to have crashed at the location 03.22.46 South and 108.50.07 East, in waters around 80-100 nautical miles from Belitung, a National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) official has said.
According to The Jakarta Post via AsiaOne, Basarnas Pangkalpinang spokesperson Supriandi said, as reported by Antara news agency on Sunday, that it had dispatched a rescue team to Belitung.
It is believed that the Airbus A320 had circled over the sea near Belitung to avoid a storm before it experienced severe turbulence and crashed into the ocean.
QZ8502 is reported to have had 155 passengers and seven cabin crew on board. The passengers included 16 children.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had written on his Facebook page: "Sorry to learn that an AirAsia aircraft from Surabaya to Singapore has gone missing.
"We don't have many details yet, but have offered our help to the Indonesian authorities. Our thoughts are with the passengers and their families."
He added: "Called President Joko Widodo to express concern and offer help. Two RSAF C-130 search and locate aircrafts are on standby, ready to go. Our ministers are following up."
Sources: Stomp, AsiaOne
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