PHOTO: AirAsia workers plot out search efforts.
AirAsia officials today confirmed that the debris and bodies found overnight in the Java Sea off the coast of Borneo are from Flight QZ8501, bringing a sorrowful end to the saga of the missing plane.
"AirAsia Indonesia regrets to inform that The National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia 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 airline said in a statement.
CNN reported that at least two bodies have been found; NBC News is reporting that up to 40 bodies have been found. Unfortunately, live coverage of the search and recovery of the flight was being broadcast in Indonesia and several family members and loved ones first found out the tragic end via television and social media.
"We are sorry to be here today under these tragic circumstances," AirAsia CEO Sunu Widyatmoko told reporters. "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."
The debris was found just six miles from where the plane last appeared on radar.
AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes tweeted his condolences as well.
The flight left Juanda Internatioinal Airport in Surabaya at 5:27 a.m. local time Saturday bound for Singapore before losing contact with air traffic control 42 minutes later. Virtually all of the 162 passengers and six of the seven crew members are from Indonesia. The last communication from the cockpit was when the pilot asked to change course and go higher in elevation to avoid a storm.
Weather is believed to have played a major role in the crash.
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