– AirAsia investigated –
The families of victims have been preparing funerals as the bodies recovered are identified in Surabaya, where a crisis centre has been set up at a police hospital with facilities to store 150 bodies.
Hendra Gunawan Syawal, 23, had been on his way for a New Year’s Eve break in Singapore with friends when the plane crashed. His relatives were readying for his last Buddhist rites.
“Even after days, we still kept thinking he’s alive, but now that we have seen his body, we know he’s gone for sure,” said his sister Yunita.
“There is a void left in my heart, but I hope in time I will heal.” READ: Searchers hopeful in AirAsia search.
Indonesia has pledged to investigate flight violations by AirAsia, saying the aircraft had been flying on an unauthorised schedule when it crashed. The airline has now been suspended from flying the Surabaya-Singapore route.
But the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said it had granted permission for the airline’s Sunday flight.
It was unclear how the airline, a unit of Malaysia-based AirAsia, had been able to fly without the necessary authorisation from its starting point.
The company has declined to comment until the probe is complete, but said it would “fully cooperate” with the government.
Before take-off, the pilot of Flight 8501 had asked for permission to fly at a higher altitude to avoid the storm, but the request was not approved due to other planes above him on the popular route, according to AirNav, Indonesia’s air traffic control.
In his last communication, Captain Iriyanto, an experienced former air force pilot, said he wanted to change course to avoid the menacing storm system. Then all contact was lost, about 40 minutes after the plane had taken off.
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