Bodies found, 'shadow' believed to be AirAsia jet seen by search planes on seabed

AFP , AP , Tuesday 30 Dec 2014

An AirAsia plane
An AirAsia plane is seen on the runway at Kuala Lumpur International Airport August 19, 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

Indonesian officials coming off a helicopter on Borneo island Tuesday said they have recovered several bodies floating in waters near where the missing AirAsia flight was last seen. Images on local television showed at least one bloated corpse.

The bodies, swollen but intact, were brought to an Indonesian navy ship, National Search and Rescue Director SB Supriyadi told reporters in the nearest town, Pangkalan Bun. The corpses did not have life jackets on.

Navy spokesman Manahan Simorangkir confirmed the discovery to TVOne, saying several victims were found, but he did not indicate whether they were dead or alive. Air Force spokesman Hadi Tjahjanto told MetroTV at least one body was found.

Meanwhile, an air force plane Tuesday spotted a "shadow" on the seabed believed to be the missing AirAsia jet, Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency chief said.

"God blessed us today," Bambang Soelistyo told a press conference.

"At 12:50 the air force Hercules found an object described as a shadow at the bottom of the sea in the form of a plane," he said.

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