AirAsia QZ8501: Pilots and Indonesian minister in war of words over weather briefing

An AirAsia jet pictured in Surabaya on Jan 3, 2015. Questions have emerged over Indonesia AirAsia's pre-flight standard operating procedures, amid a war of words between the transportation minister and pilots angry with his reported comments on alleged procedural violations prior to the disappearance of Flight QZ8501. -- PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO.

JAKARTA: Questions have emerged over Indonesia AirAsia's pre-flight standard operating procedures, amid a war of words between the transportation minister and pilots angry at his reported comments on alleged procedural violations prior to the disappearance of Flight QZ8501.

Indonesia AirAsia has said the pilot of flight QZ8501 "self-briefed" on weather conditions using reports downloaded from the meteorological bureau BKMG.