Fragments of Crashed AirAsia Plane Found in Indonesia: Rescue Agency

The head of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency reported Saturday that the rescue team has discovered two large fragments of an AirAsia plane that crashed above Java Sea last Sunday.

BALI, January 3 (Sputnik) – Rescue workers have found two large fragments of an AirAsia plane that crashed above Java Sea last Sunday, Bambang Sulistyo, the head of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency announced Saturday.

"I confirm that these are parts of the AirAsia plane that we have been looking for," Sulistyo said at a press conference as quoted by the Detik.com internet news portal.

Rescue workers are now trying to inspect the newly-found fragments, which lie at a depth of 30 meters (almost 100 feet) using special equipment, but the weather conditions are hampering their efforts, according to Sulistyo.

Sulistyo also confirmed that so far, 30 bodies of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 passengers have been found. The flight was carrying a total of 162 passengers and crew.

A group of Russian rescue workers, that arrived in Indonesia on Friday, will join in the search on Saturday. Sulistyo expressed hope that Russian divers will significantly contribute to the underwater search operation.

Earlier on Saturday, Detik.com reported that the AirAsia search operation had been expanded and divers had started working in the area despite rough waters.

AirAsia Flight QZ8501 was heading to Singapore from Indonesia's second-largest city of Surabaya on Sunday, December 29, when it vanished off radars about 40 minutes after takeoff.

The black boxes from the plane have not been found yet.