Indonesia AirAsia chief executive officer Sunu Widyatmoko said that they would provide an Airbus A320 to carry the affected family members to the search area, comprising 13 sectors on Java Sea.
“We have received a request from the next-of-kin to be able to see the location (for themselves), as they believe with their presence and prayers, they will help the SAR team to quickly find the aircraft,” he told reporters at crisis centre, Juanda International Airport here Tuesday.
He said Indonesia AirAsia would need to coordinate with the National Search and Rescue Agency in order not to interfere with the ongoing search operations.
“As of now, dozens of aircraft are flying at the location so we need to coordinate with the SAR team. We are trying our best to give support to the family members,” he said.
Sunu said the Airbus could accommodate 180 passengers, and selected media were also invited to join the one-day operation.
Director of Angkasapura (civil aviation) Tomy Sitomo said the move by Indonesia AirAsia was a positive one.
“I believe this move could give comfort to the family members,” he said, adding that they were also providing necessary facilities for the family members in terms of updated information.
“We have set up six televisions at this crisis centre for live streaming update from main SAR operation centre in Jakarta,” he said.
Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501, that took off from Surabaya’s Juanda International Airport to Singapore’s Changi Airport went off flight radar 42 minutes into its journey last Sunday.
The Airbus A320-200 was flying in Indonesian airspace when it went missing, about 200 nautical miles south-east of the Singapore-Jakarta flight information region boundary.
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