The AirAsia flight QZ8501âs emergency locator transmitter (ELT) has reportedly been found in waters near Mamuju, West Sulawesi, during search operations conducted in the area
he AirAsia flight QZ8501's emergency locator transmitter (ELT) has reportedly been found in waters near Mamuju, West Sulawesi, during search operations conducted in the area.
The head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) in Mamuju, Muhammad Rizal, said as of Monday, the joint SAR team had found seven bodies, all suspected to have been passengers on board the QZ8501 that crashed into the waters of the Karimata Strait, Central Kalimantan, on Dec. 28, 2014. All bodies have been recovered and sent to Bhayangkara Hospital in Surabaya, East Java, for identification.
Muhammad said that in addition to the bodies, locals had also found objects thought to be sections of the crashed AirAsia aircraft, including seats, aircraft cabin, fiber-made interiors, as well as a box with antennas emblazoned with the words, "emergency locator transmitter".
'On Sunday, a local fisherman found the ELT in waters near a beach in Mamuju regency. It seems the ELT can no longer function, however,' Muhammad said.
The Basarnas head added that during the search on Sunday, one body was found not far from the Tubo Sendana district beach in Majene regency, West Sulawesi.
The SAR team suspected the victim was a child, but due to the severity of the crash and the weeks that had passed, could not be certain.
Basarnas has sent the body to Bhayangkara Hospital in Surabaya to confirm the victim was a passenger on AirAsia QZ8501.
The ELT should show the QZ8501's final position before it crashed into the Karimata Strait waters. As the transmitter no longer functions, however, it is unlikely that authorities will be able to determine the QZ8501's final position before the crash.
Basarnas Makassar head Roki Azikin said the ELT, together with pieces of the aircraft and other objects, had been taken to the joint SAR team post in Majene regency before being sent to Makassar and Surabaya.
'We will hand it over the ELT to the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) for an examination to confirm it was part of the AirAsia aircraft,' he said, adding that the search operation had been expanded from Majene and Mamuju to Pinrang and Pare-pare in South Sulawesi. (ebf)(++++)
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