The ultimate fate of AirAsia flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore remains largely unknown. As search and rescue efforts settle in for the night, we offer a recap of what we know so far:
- At about 11am on Sunday, Dec. 28, Malaysian-based budget carrier AirAsia confirmed that air traffic control had lost contact with flight QZ8501, which had left Surabaya for Singapore.
- It was revealed the missing aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with register number PK-AXC, which left the Juanda International Airport on schedule at 5:20am and was scheduled to arrive at the Singapore Changi Airport at 8:30am.
Background story on missing AirAsia flight QZ8501
- According to a breakdown of events released by airline and transport ministry officials, QZ8501 had requested to defer from the planned route so it could avoid the storm clouds. It had wanted to climb up to 38,000 feet. Air traffic control officially lost contact at about 7:18am SGT.
- Passenger manifest released by the Indonesian transport ministry reveals there are a total of 162 people on the flight. 155 of them are passengers, while the rest is made up of flight deck and cabin crew. Out of the 155 passengers, 138 are adults. There are 16 children — one of whom is the only Singaporean on QZ8501 — and one infant on the flight.
- Passengers are made up of one two-year-old Singaporean girl, one Malaysian, three South Koreans, one British and 149 Indonesians. Crew nationalities are one French and six Indonesians.
- Several sources, including US forecast service WeatherBug, have reported extremely bad weather near the path of QZ8501, which lost contact with air traffic control over the Java Sea, close to Pulau Belitung.
- Three planes were reported to have combed the three areas between Tanjung Pandan and Pontianak in West Kalimanan, where QZ8501 is believed to have disappeared, but had found nothing after two hours.
- So far, 16 next-of-kin have agreed to fly to Surabaya tonight, a Changi Airport spokesperson has revealed. AirAsia and Indonesia’s Ministry of Transport have arranged to put up affected friends and relatives in a hotel close to the Juanda International Airport.
- There are currently no more families at the holding room in Changi Airport’s Terminal 2. They’re reported to have gone home or retired to a hotel.
