AirAsia QZ8501: Crash probe to focus on request to climb, weather

A man looks at a map showing the region where AirAsia flight QZ8501 went down. - EPA

SURABAYA, Indonesia: Investigators into the Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501which crashed into the Java sea are focusing on the timing of the crew's request to climb to a higher altitude to avoid bad weather as a possible factor behind the tragedy, a source close to the probe said.

As Indonesian ships and aircraft recovered debris and bodies from the downed plane, the investigation into what happened on Sunday, when the aircraft carrying 162 people disappeared from radars, has only just begun.