Countries Offers Help in Search for Missing Airasia Aircraft

Jakarta (Antara) - Five countries have offered help in search for AirAsia's Airbus A320-200 aircraft missing during flight from Surabaya to Singapore. The air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft after taking off from Surabaya at 05.36 local time with 155 passengers and seven crew members including two pilots on board. Acting air transport director general Djoko Murjatmodjo said offers had come from a number of countries including Singapore, Australia, Britain, South Korea and the United States. "Until now we still use the national capacity only to search for the aircraft," Djoko said. The aircraft was believed to have crashed in the sea between Kalimantan and Belitung island off Sumatra. Djoko said the government accepts and appreciates the offer but the government still relies on the national capacity. The aircraft maker Airbus has also offered help in investigation. (*)