The Sampit-based National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) members joined the search operation, which also involves personnel from the military and local government on Monday to comb the coastal areas of Kubu.
Eko Lativania, a coordinator of the search mission, stated that the efforts to find the missing Flight QZ 8501, carrying 167 people on board, were launched through air, sea, and land search operations.
In the meantime, the massive search operation, involving at least 22 vessels and eight aircraft, has been underway. The pilot of the Indonesian Air Forces CN235-MPA landed at the Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam Island for refueling before continuing the search mission.
According to Basarnas Chief F.H. Bambang Sulistyo, the search operation was being carried out in seven targeted sectors by deploying aircraft, helicopters, and vessels from the military, police, and Basarnas.
In another development, Vice President Jusuf Kalla arrived at the Juanda International Airport, East Java, to meet the families of the ill-fated AirAsia jets passengers.
Oen Yon Hok, the mother of Ruth Natalia M Puspitasari (26) who got on board AirAsias Flight QZ 8501, said she wanted to leave Blitar for Juanda International Airport to find about the fate of her daughter.
"I am prepared to go to Surabaya to seek the latest information," she remarked.
Acting Director General of Air Transportation Djoko Murdjatmojo stated on Sunday that the aircraft might have lost contact at 6:17 a.m. local time, when it flew between Pontianak, West Kalimantan Province, and Tanjung Pandan in Bangka Belitung Province.
"The aircraft had lost contact at 6:17 a.m. (Western Indonesian Standard Time). It just lost contact. We do not have another assumption," he added.
(Reported by Norjani and Larso/Uu.R013/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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