International search drive mobilized for missing AirAsia flight

The mission in Surabaya resumed at 06.00 on Monday.

“AirAsia Indonesia continued to support these efforts and has been actively cooperating with the search and rescue authorities with its primary focus remaining on the families, a press statement said.

It also said that AirAsia Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Indonesia Sunu Widyatmoko is currently stationed at the family centre in Surabaya.

“We have been keeping the families updated on the search and rescue efforts as well as provide emotional support. Another group of AirAsia officials are providing the same to the families based in Singapore,” the press communiqué said.

An emergency call centre was established and available for families seeking information. The number is +622129270811 or 031-8690855 or 031-2986790 (Surabaya).

The AirAsia plane that went missing with 162 passengers on board en-route to Singapore is likely at the bottom of the sea, Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency Chief Bambang Soelistyo said on Monday

He said: “Based on the coordinates given to us and evaluation that the estimated crash position is in the sea, the hypothesis is the plane is at the bottom of the sea.” The Airbus A320-200 disappeared on Sunday en-route from Surabaya in Indonesia’s east Java to Singapore.

Soelistyo said that Indonesia did not have the tools required retrieving the plane from the seabed.

“Due to the lack of technology that we have, I have coordinated with our foreign minister so we will borrow from other countries which have offered. They are the UK, France and US,” he said.