MOSCOW, December 29 (Sputnik) — The search operation for the missing AirAsia passenger jet that allegedly crashed into the Java Sea on Sunday will expand to take in land, the chief of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) said Monday.
"Search operations tomorrow will expand to land, to among others the western part of West Kalimantan province," Henry Bambang Soelistyo was quoted as saying by The Straits Times.
He noted that the international mission involving Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea will continue search operations in the Java Sea Tuesday morning, and that no traces of the plane have yet been found.
AirAsia's Flight QZ8501, flying to Singapore from Surabaya, Indonesia, lost contact with air traffic control on Sunday morning. The Airbus A320-200 was carrying 155 passengers, mostly Indonesians, and seven crew members.
Russia, Japan, the United States, China and a number of other countries have offered to assist in the search for the missing jet.
