Aircraft searching for the missing AirAsia jet have seen debris in the company’s red and white colours off the Kalimantan coast.
Items resembling a plane door and an emergency slide found in the search for AirAsia Flight QZ8501 are probably from the missing plane, officials have said.
At least 10 large objects have been found in the Java Sea, around six miles from where the plane lost contact with air traffic control, the Indonesian air force said in a statement.
Djoko Murjatmodjo, Indonesia’s director general of air transportation, said: “For the time being it can be confirmed that it’s the AirAsia plane and the transport minister will depart soon to Pangkalan Bun.”
Yusuf Latif, spokesman for Indonesia National Search and Rescue, said an Indonesian military aircraft saw white, red and black objects, including what appears to be a life jacket, off the coast, about 105 miles (170 km) south of Pangkalan Bun.
The agency has sent at least one helicopter to pick up at least 10 pieces of debris which will be taken to the search and rescue co-ordination post on Belitung Island.
“This is the most significant finding, but we cannot confirm anything until the investigation is completed,” said Mr Latif.
On Tuesday, the search for the lost aircraft was expanded off the coast of Indonesia, with the US deploying a warship to assist the operation.
It has been more than 36 hours since the aircraft, with 162 passengers on board, communicated with air traffic control over the Java Sea – and officials fear the jet has crashed into shallow waters.
Hull-born businessman Chi Man Choi and his two-year-old daughter Zoe are among the missing.
Some 30 ships and 21 aircraft from South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and Indonesia are scouring 10,000 nautical miles in hope of tracking down the Airbus A320.
Courtesy:skynews
