Ready to help in search for missing AirAsia Plane, says China
December 29, 2014, 5:27 am

A relative of a passenger onboard missing Malaysian air carrier Air Asia flight QZ8501 breaks down while making a phone call at Juanda international airport in Surabaya in East Java of Indonesia on Dec. 28, 2014 [Xinhua]

China has offered to send aircraft and ships to help in the search for the missing AirAsia flight.

“The Chinese side has already said to Indonesia that it is willing to urgently send aircraft and ships to participate in search and rescue, and will provide other aid according to Indonesian needs,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Even as Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency chief said that the missing plane is likely at the bottom of the sea, China said it is deeply worried about the safety of the passengers and crew.

“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 rescue agency chief Bambang Soelistyo said.

The Indonesian Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan said on Monday that the ministry would review local unit of AirAsia, including business operations, following the missing flight. AirAsia shares lost more than 7 per cent in morning trading in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing offers condolences to the families and will continue to closely monitor developments of the missing flight.

The Airbus A320-200 with 162 people on board lost contact with ground control Sunday after departing from Surabaya in Indonesia on its way to Singapore.

Singapore, Malaysia and Australia have already sent aircraft and ships to assist Indonesia in the search, which is centred on the Java Sea.

AirAsia Indonesia issued a correction Sunday on the nationality breakdown of passengers and crew on board the missing flight.

The revised passengers’ list includes one Singaporean, one Malaysian, three South Koreans, one Briton and 149 Indonesians.

The crew include one French and six Indonesians.

TBP and Agencies