Anguish as bodies, debris found from AirAsia Flight 8501

(CNN) — A grim discovery in the waters off Indonesia on Tuesday dealt a heartbreaking blow to families whose loved ones were lost on AirAsia Flight QZ8501, and their anguish was felt around the world.

Debris from the plane was spotted 100-200 kilometers (60-120 miles) from the aircraft’s last known location over the Java Sea, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said.

Three bodies were recovered: two women and one man, Indonesian search and rescue chief Bambang Soelistyo told CNN.

« To the relatives, I feel your loss, and all of us pray that all of the families are given the strength and fortitude during this incident, » Indonesian President Joko Widodo told journalists. He then went to meet with families.


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« We are sorry to be here today under these tragic circumstances, » said Sunu Widyatmoko, head of AirAsia Indonesia. « 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. »

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

Later, speaking with reporters, Fernandes said there is now « at least some closure » for families who might have been « holding out hope. »

Hospitals in the Indonesian city of Surabaya are being prepared to help house and identify bodies being recovered off the coast of Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan province on Borneo.

As families watched a live news conference about the discovery of the debris and saw video of a helicopter lowering a diver to what appeared to be a floating body, some people fainted. Stretchers were brought into the room.

Family members burst into tears, dabbing their eyes as officials passed out tissues. Some sat with their eyes full of tears, hands covering their mouths or heads buried in their hands. Others had phones jammed against their ears.

« Everyone became hysterical, especially the mothers. One mother even blacked out, » said Maria Endang Wirasmi, whose daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren were on the flight.

Her husband, Imam Sampurno, said he was relieved the plane had been found.

« We hope that our children will be saved by a miracle, » he said.

Military crew spotted an object’s shadow

Soelistyo, the head of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, said the debris was discovered when a crew on a military aircraft spotted the shadow of an object that looked like a plane in the water.

Further searching found floating objects believed to be the bodies of passengers, and then what appeared to be an emergency exit of the plane. Officials sent other search teams racing to the area.

Several nations are contributing resources to the effort, including the United States. The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Sampson arrived Tuesday.

The USS Fort Worth is also being prepared to deploy from Singapore, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said. It « can be ready to sail in a day or two to get on station and can be there very quickly, » he said.


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Search zone where debris was found Search zone where debris was found


Search zone where debris was foundSearch zone where debris was found

Indonesian Air Force personnel on Tuesday, December 30, show debris, including a suitcase, that was found floating near the site where AirAsia Flight QZ8501 disappeared on Sunday. Indonesia's national search and rescue agency confirmed that the debris found is from that flight, the airline said Tuesday.Indonesian Air Force personnel on Tuesday, December 30, show debris, including a suitcase, that was found floating near the site where AirAsia Flight QZ8501 disappeared on Sunday. Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency confirmed that the debris found is from that flight, the airline said Tuesday.

Debris floats in the Java Sea on December 30. Flight QZ8501 was carrying 155 passengers and seven crew members.Debris floats in the Java Sea on December 30. Flight QZ8501 was carrying 155 passengers and seven crew members.

A member of the Indonesian Navy monitors a radar screen during a search operation over the waters near Bangka Island, Indonesia, on December 30.A member of the Indonesian Navy monitors a radar screen during a search operation over the waters near Bangka Island, Indonesia, on December 30.

A piece of debris floats in the Java Sea on December 30.A piece of debris floats in the Java Sea on December 30.

Family members of missing passengers react at an airport in Surabaya, Indonesia, after watching news reports on December 30.Family members of missing passengers react at an airport in Surabaya, Indonesia, after watching news reports on December 30.

Debris floats in the Java Sea on December 30.Debris floats in the Java Sea on December 30.

Relatives of the flight's pilot, Captain Iriyanto, gather at his house in Surabaya on December 30. Second from right is his wife, Rr. Widiya Sukati Putri.Relatives of the flight’s pilot, Captain Iriyanto, gather at his house in Surabaya on December 30. Second from right is his wife, Rr. Widiya Sukati Putri.

Indonesian Air Force personnel scan the sea from plane windows on December 30.Indonesian Air Force personnel scan the sea from plane windows on December 30.

A member of an Indonesian search and rescue team gestures as the team is ferried out to a ship to conduct search operations on December 30.A member of an Indonesian search and rescue team gestures as the team is ferried out to a ship to conduct search operations on December 30.

Relatives of missing passengers comfort each other December 30 at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya.Relatives of missing passengers comfort each other December 30 at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya.

Relatives gather at Juanda International Airport as they wait for news on December 30.Relatives gather at Juanda International Airport as they wait for news on December 30.

An Indonesian search and rescue team prepares for a search on December 30.An Indonesian search and rescue team prepares for a search on December 30.

An Indonesian military airman looks out the window of an airplane during a search over the waters of Karimata Strait on Monday, December 29. An Indonesian military airman looks out the window of an airplane during a search over the waters of Karimata Strait on Monday, December 29.

Indonesian Army personnel read a map during a search operation on December 29.Indonesian Army personnel read a map during a search operation on December 29.

Members of Indonesia's Marine Police pray before a search operation on December 29.Members of Indonesia’s Marine Police pray before a search operation on December 29.

Military personnel perform a search operation on Sunday, December 28.Military personnel perform a search operation on Sunday, December 28.

Sunu Widyatmoko, CEO of Indonesia AirAsia, announces December 28 that the flight lost contact with air traffic control.Sunu Widyatmoko, CEO of Indonesia AirAsia, announces December 28 that the flight lost contact with air traffic control.

Members of the Indonesian Regional Disaster Management Agency walk at a beach as they search for the missing plane on December 28.Members of the Indonesian Regional Disaster Management Agency walk at a beach as they search for the missing plane on December 28.

Jiang Hui, whose relatives were on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, watches the news about the missing AirAsia flight at his house in Beijing on December 28. Flight 370 went missing on March 8 and has yet to be found.Jiang Hui, whose relatives were on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, watches the news about the missing AirAsia flight at his house in Beijing on December 28. Flight 370 went missing on March 8 and has yet to be found.

An official from Indonesia's national search and rescue agency points to the position where AirAsia Flight QZ8501 went missing.An official from Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency points to the position where AirAsia Flight QZ8501 went missing.

The aircraft went missing as it flew over the Java Sea between the islands of Belitung and Borneo, according to Indonesian authorities. It was bound for Singapore.The aircraft went missing as it flew over the Java Sea between the islands of Belitung and Borneo, according to Indonesian authorities. It was bound for Singapore.

An official checks a map of Indonesia at Juanda International Airport.An official checks a map of Indonesia at Juanda International Airport.


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The search for AirAsia Flight QZ8501The search for AirAsia Flight QZ8501

The United States is also preparing maritime patrol aircraft that could help, he said.

The flight, which was lost Sunday on its way to Singapore, was carrying 155 passengers and seven crew members. The overwhelming majority were Indonesians. There were also citizens of Britain, France, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.

Search and rescue teams are diverting all their resources to where the debris is, in the Karimata Strait, about 110 nautical miles southwest of the Indonesian city of Pangkalan Bun, AirAsia said.

Divers and ships with sonar equipment are being sent to the site, where the water depth varies between 25 and 30 meters (about 80 to 100 feet), Soelistyo said.

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Unanswered questions

Fernandes said the focus for now must remain on the recovery effort, and no sweeping changes were planned for the airline, which has 1,000 flights a day. « But rest assured, » he said, that once the investigation is done, if « there are things we need to change, that we will change it. »

The Airbus A320-200 lost contact with air traffic control early Sunday shortly after the pilot requested permission to turn and climb to a higher altitude because of bad weather, according to Indonesian officials.

Authorities mounted a huge effort to find the aircraft, mapping out a search zone covering 156,000 square kilometers.

Questions remain about why Flight 8501 lost contact with air traffic control and what happened afterward.

Some experts have said the aircraft might have experienced an aerodynamic stall because of a lack of speed or from flying at too sharp an angle to get enough lift.

Analysts have also suggested the pilots might not have been getting information from onboard systems about the plane’s position or that rain or hail from thunderstorms in the area could have damaged the engines.

The key to understanding what happened is likely to be contained in the aircraft’s flight recorders.

« Until we get the black boxes, we won’t know what’s going on with the engines, » said Bill Savage, a former pilot with 30 years of experience.

News stirs emotions of families from another missing flight

The disappearance of Flight 8501 also stirred painful memories of the families of people on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which dropped off radar over the South China Sea in March.

For them, the news from Indonesia brought everything back.

« The fear about losing someone, the pain, and the desperation, » said Steve Wang, whose mother was on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight.

Nearly 10 months later, searchers are still combing remote reaches of the southern Indian Ocean for any trace of the Boeing 777 that had 239 people on board.

« The lack of ability to close things down emotionally is just exhausting, » Sarah Bajc said on Monday night. Her partner, Philip Woods, was on board Flight 370.

When news broke that another plane had disappeared this week, Bajc said, « I just started to shake. »

CNN’s Andrew Stevens, Elizabeth Joseph, Brian Walker, Khushbu Shah, Jake Tapper and Will Ripley, and translators Azieza Uhnavy and Edi Pangerapan contributed to this report.



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