Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported on Wednesday that search crews have found the tail section of the AirAsia A320 that crashed into the Java Sea, marking a breakthrough in efforts to recover Flight QZ8501’s flight data and voice recorders. Officials made the visual confirmation following underwater documentation of the aircraft’s tail and small wreckage, which showed the its registration number (PK-AXC), captured by the search and rescue team’s sea divers.
Searchers found the tail section in an expanded focus search area, some 19 miles from the primary focus area. Weather in the area has turned favorable, giving divers good visibility for continued observation. Following the latest finding, Basarnas confirmed that it would concentrate continued searches for the CVR and FDR and trapped remains on the area of the tail section discovery.
“We would like to extend our appreciation to all authorities and personnel that has been involved in the SAR operation,” said AirAsia Indonesia CEO Sunu Widyatmoko. “Today is the eleventh day and the latest finding is indeed an breakthrough for all of us who have been anxiously waiting for further development on the SAR operation.”
For 10 days following the loss of Flight QZ8501, severe weather, high seas and murky water hampered the search for the wreckage, which lies on the sea floor some 100 feet below the surface. As of Wednesday Basarnas confirmed it had recovered the bodies of 40 of the 162 people believed killed in the December 28 accident, along with several pieces of debris including passenger seats, the emergency exit window, luggage, and survival kits.
Several countries have deployed more than 40 vessels and 20 helicopters to find the exact location of the airplane’s wreckage and FDR/CVR. U.S. Navy divers assisting in the search have deployed side-scan sonar gear to map the sea floor and capture images. On Sunday the U.S. Navy combat ship USS Fort Worth joined the guided missile destroyer USS Sampson in the Java Sea to assist in the Indonesian-led search effort.