Rescuers battle high seas to recover 2 more bodies
Print Edition
RECOVERY teams made patchy progress yesterday in the search for bodies from the wreckage of AirAsia flight 8501, finding the remains of just two more victims on the 10th day of operations.
Hindered by rough seas, the teams have found fewer than 40 bodies since the plane crashed during a storm early on December 28, carrying 162 people from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore.
Recovery workers are also yet to find the “black box” flight data recorders, which are crucial to determining the cause of the crash, though they have located five major parts of the plane on the seabed including a “suspected tail” — where flight recorders are usually housed.
Divers were sent down to the sea floor during a break in the weather yesterday but struggled to investigate the wreckage, said search official S. B. Supriyadi.
“Some of them tried to dive but the bad weather hampered the operation,” he said.
“Divers haven’t managed to get close to the large parts of the plane so far,” he said.
The operation has prioritized finding the bodies of the victims, all but seven of whom were Indonesian. All of the bodies found so far were spotted floating on the sea’s surface, some still strapped into their seats, according to officials.
The two bodies found yesterday took the total to 39, despite an extension to the area of sea being searched in the belief that debris and bodies may have drifted in strong currents.
Indonesian navy commander Yayan Sofyan described some of the everyday objects they had recovered.
“We found backpacks, suitcases, shoes, a chair for a baby,” he said, adding that the search teams were determined to overcome the monsoon season weather to find more bodies.
“In our mind we just want to get the victims reunited with the rest of their families.”
Indonesia has ordered the suspension of officials involved in the departure of the flight. It says the flight operated by AirAsia Indonesia was flying on an unauthorized schedule.
The airline has been suspended from flying the Surabaya-Singapore route.
In Surabaya, which was home to several victims, a crisis center has been set up.
Eric Edi Santo lost his aunt and five other family members, but so far only two of their bodies have been found. He was holding out hope for the others.
“They died so tragically, at least I want them to have a proper burial,” he said.
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