Transportation Ministry Not To Halt Search For Missing AirAsia QZ 8501

Jakarta, Dec 29 (Antara) - The government continues its search for the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 with 162 people aboard, on Monday until the aircraft is found, stated Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan. "We continue to search for the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 until the aircraft is found," Jonan noted here on Monday. According to him, the Transportation Ministry discussed the search and rescue operations with Bambang Soelistyo, the head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). In addition, the transportation ministry will review the national airline safety procedures, so that a similar incident does not recur in future. He will also review AirAsia Indonesia to ensure that its performance can be further improved in future. In the meantime, AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes remarked that he will be heedful to the needs of the relatives of passengers aboard the missing QZ8501 jet. Tony will give insurance in accordance with the regulations of the Republic of Indonesia. Earlier, the Basarnas announced that it would be focusing its search efforts on East Belitung waters to find the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 on Monday, the second day of the search and rescue operations. "We are conducting search operations in the east off Belitung Island, in accordance with the last contact made by the aircraft," Basarnas` Operations Director Air Commodore S.B. Supriyadi noted here on Monday. Basarnas will conduct combing operations in the waters off east Belitung Island to the southeast. "Later, we will also comb the coastal areas of West Kalimantan," he added.