The fuselage was found some 3,000 meters away from where the tail was recovered and 800 meters from where the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was found.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Chief of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) F. H. Bambang Soelistyo said here on Wednesday that the fuselage of AirAsia flight QZ8501 has been recovered.

"The fuselage with a wing still attached was found today," he affirmed at the Basarnas headquarters.

He added that the fuselage was recovered by a naval ship from Singapore at 3.05 p. m..

"The fuselage was found some 3,000 meters away from where the tail was recovered and 800 meters from where the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was found," Soelistyo revealed.

The Basarnas chief confirmed that the recovered fuselage, which measures 30x10x3 meter, was that of AirAsia flight QZ8501.

The recovery of the tail section of the ill-fated aircraft on the seventh day of search operations had, so far, been the most significant part of the wreckage of the plane that was tracked down.

On Monday (January 12), the 16th day of search operations, the joint team recovered the FDR in the waters of Karimata Strait at 7.11 a. m..

On the same day, divers recovered the Cockpit Voice Recorder (VCR) some 20 meters away from where the FDR was found.

The CVR was retrieved on Tuesday (January 13) and was later taken to Jakarta for further investigation by the National Committee for Transportation Safety (KNKT), similar to the process followed after the FDR was found.

The Basarnas with its joint team plans to stop its major operations soon, but will still continue its efforts on a daily basis.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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