Nine bodies have been recovered so far from the Java Sea off the island of Borneo in the area believed to be the crash site of AirAsia Flight QZ8501, according to the BBC. One victim has been identified as Hayati Lutfia Hamid.MOSCOW, January 1 (Sputnik) Two more bodies have been found inthe Java Sea nearwhat is believed tobe the crash site ofAirAsia Flight QZ8501, bringing the total tonine, the BBC reports, citing unnamed officials.
One victim has already been identified asHayati Lutfia Hamid, a flight attendant, the broadcaster said.
The bodies ofseven people recovered earlier have been transported toSurabaya, Indonesia, according tothe Associated Press.
Bad weather is hampering search efforts, which are focused onlocating the plane. "There was something likea dark shadow once seen froma plane, butit cannot yet be proven tobe wreckage," said Rear Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, an Indonesia air force spokesman, asquoted bythe AP.
"It's possible the bodies are inthe fuselage," said Vice Air Marshal Sunarbowo Sandi, the search and rescue coordinator inPangkalan Bun, asquoted bythe news agency. "So it's a race now againsttime and weather," he added.
"I am hoping that the latest information is correct and the aircraft has been found. Please [lets] all hope together. This is so important," AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes tweeted.
AirAsia flight QZ8501 was heading toSingapore with162 people onboard when it lost contact withair traffic control onSunday morning. On Tuesday, its debris and the bodies ofpeople who had been aboardwere spotted scattered inthe Karimata Strait offthe coast ofBorneo.
Thirty ships and 21 aircraft fromIndonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and the United States have been participating inthe search forFlight QZ8501. No survivors have been found.
AirAsia Indonesia operates domestic flights withinthe Indonesian archipelago and international flights toMalaysia, Singapore, Australia and Thailand. The company is an affiliate ofthe Malaysian company AirAsia.
By Sputnik News
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