AirAsia crash: Search and rescue area widened in Java Sea

JAKARTA/SINGAPORE: The search area for the crashed AirAsia flight QZ8501 was adjusted in the Java Sea today with the establishment of two new sectors, said Chief of the Malaysian Navy Abdul Aziz Jaafar.

"Sector widened eastwards 40 nm n UWSA shrank to 300 sq nm. 2 new sectors," he tweeted this morning.

The search and rescue (SAR) operation resumed for the 11th day for finding bodies and blackbox of the AirAsia Airbus 320-200 which crashed on December 28 in the Java Sea with 162 passengers and crew.

Underwater current was still strong of around 4-5 knots and the visibility was still limited for the sea divers yesterday to identify more findings from the seabed where the plane crashed, said AirAsia last night in an update of the SAR operation.

The weather was cloudy with light rain and waves at 2-3 meters reported yesterday.

These elements continue to hamper SAR. More than 40 vessels and 20 helicopters were deployed and focused to find the exact location of the plane's wreckage as well as the black box.

Sixteen of the 39 bodies recovered as of yesterday have been identified and the remains of the rest were still being identified.

The multi-nation SAR operation led by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) continues today.