The AirAsia Indonesia pilot is thought to have forced the Airbus A320-200 aircraft to climb at a rate that falls outside the operational capabilities of the popular passenger jet in an attempt to avoid a bad storm. The AirAsia flight climbed too fast, causing the commercial jet to stall and the plane to plummet into the sea, evidence indicates.
Radar data recorded on the aircraft’s black box, including the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, recovered from the wreckage reveals the aircraft’s rapid speed of ascent moments before the plane was lost.
"It is not normal to climb like that. It's very rare for commercial planes, which normally climb just 1,000 to 2,000 feet per minute," Jonan explains. "It can only be done by a fighter jet."
Officials at AirAsia Indonesia announced that search and rescue (SAR) operations of Flight QZ 8501 led by The National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) Republic of Indonesia continue to search for passengers around the primary focus area. SAR vessels were on standby around the focus search area where the aircraft fuselage was found. SAR divers have been deployed to examine the site where more passengers are suspected to be trapped under the wreckage.
The SAR team has received additional equipment, such as 12 additional lifting bags, that will support the mission to float the aircraft fuselage wreckage. The exact timing for the floating mission will depend on weather conditions.
