October 21, 2026 05:25 pm (IST)
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AirAsia QZ 8501 wasn't licensed for route on Sunday: Report
Jakarta, Jan 4 (IBNS): As rescue agencies search for more wreckage and bodies of the ill-fated AirAsia Flight QZ 8501, new reports have emerged that the AirAsia Indonesia did not have a license to fly the Surabaya-to-Singapore route on Sunday, said reports.
The airline was approved to fly the route four days a week but it did not include Sunday, CNN reported.
Following the revelations, Indonesia's Ministry of Transport has announced a full investigation and suspended Indonesia AirAsia flights between the two cities.
It will also probe on all other airlines operating in the country to make sure they were complying with license agreements.
In an statement earlier, the transport ministry said the airline "has violated the agreement on route given."
"Indonesia AirAsia route Surabaya-Singapore was operated outside of the permitted license, namely among others on Sunday. And Indonesia AirAsia did not submit a request to alter operational day to the Directorate General of Air Transport. This is a violation against the agreement in the route provided," CNN quoted the statement.
The Indonesian meteorological agency, meanwhile, said that bad weather have probably caused the fatal crash of AirAsia Flight QZ 8501.
The Airbus A320-200 reportedly crashed during a storm en route from Indonesia's second city Surabaya to Singapore.
According to the Indonesian meteorological department, the engine of the aircraft was probably damaged due to icing.
Search operations are still on as rescue agencies continue to recover more wreckage of the flight that had 162 passengers on board.
No survivors have been found from the crash yet.
A total of 30 remains of QZ 8501 passengers have been recovered. The aircraft went down into the sea on Sunday with 162 passengers aboard.
A hunt, involving international experts. was on to recover the black box of the ill fated aircraft and more bodies.
The aircraft had crashed just 40 minutes after it had taken off last Sunday.
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