Underwater search launched after Lion Air flight crash

The plane was flying from Jakarta to an Indonesian tin-mining region, when it lost contact with air traffic control, around 13 minutes after take off. According to flight data, the plane made a sudden, sharp dive into the sea. The cause of the crash is still unknown.

After the crash, human remains were found on the crash scene, about 15km off the coast. Now, relevant authorities are searching other areas off Java as well, as there they expect to find the most victims. They do not think that there will be any survivors.

According to the head of Basarnas, the national search and rescue agency, Muhammad Syauqi, no human remains were found since the day of the crash. Thus, an underwater search started, including 30 divers, local media reported.

Experts believe that the plane went down in waters about 30-35 metres deep, based on wind and current patterns. The search will last for seven days, with an option for three more if the plane is not found.

Moreover, speaking about the accident, Lion Air’s chief executive, Edward Sirait, said that the plane suffered a technical issue the day before the crash, but engineers had allowed it to fly the next day.

According to reports, the plane had requested to turn back only two to three minutes after taking off from Soekarno Hatta airport, with traffic control giving the permission to do so.