In Search Of Missing Plane Debris Sighted

An Australian plane has spotted debris in the sea during the hunt for the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501, authorities have said.

Jakarta's Air Force base commander Rear Marshal Dwi Putranto said an Australian Orion aircraft had detected "suspicious" objects near Nangka island, between Sumatra and Borneo and close to Belitung island.

The AP news agency said the spot is about 700 miles (1,120km) from the location where the plane lost contact with air traffic controllers over the Java Sea in the early hours of Sunday morning.

But it is well within the area currently being searched.

The flight had been on its way from Surabaya on the Indonesian island of Java to Singapore at the time.

The pilot had asked for permission to fly higher to avoid bad weather but was refused because other aircraft were in the area, officials told Reuters.

One Briton was among the 162 on board, with the rest from Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and France.

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla confirmed debris had been found but added that it needed to be clarified that it was from the missing plane.

Searchers have also been looking at an oil slick off the east coast of Belitung island.

Earlier, the chief of Indonesia's search effort Bambang Soelistyo said that the missing AirAsia passenger plane "is likely at the bottom of the sea".

More than a dozen ships have been sent to the area to try to find the aircraft.

Australia, Singapore and Malaysia have deployed planes to assist in the Indonesian-led search.

Search teams are currently scouring an area where the sea is 40-50 metres (130-160 feet) deep, Mr Soelistyo told journalists.

Distraught relatives spent the night in the Indonesian city of Surabaya hoping for news of loved ones.

One, who called herself Intan, called on Indonesia to ask for help from other countries, rather than try to carry out the search alone.

She said: "My hope is Indonesia seeks as much help as possible from other countries. Don't claim 'We have sophisticated technology', just ask other countries because they are better equipped."

 Reuter