PANGKALAN BUN, Indonesia — A massive hunt for the 162 victims of AirAsia Flight 8501 resumed in the Java Sea on Wednesday, focusing on an area of aqua-colored waters where the first bodies and debris were located a day earlier.
But wind, strong currents and high surf hampered recovery efforts as distraught family members anxiously waited to identify their loved ones.
The first proof of the jet’s fate emerged Tuesday in an area not far from where it dropped off radar screens. Searchers have found six bodies: three Tuesday and three more when work resumed Wednesday. Debris discovered included a life jacket, an emergency exit door and a suitcase about 10 miles from the plane’s last known coordinates.
On Wednesday, divers were deployed, but heavy rain and clouds grounded helicopters, said Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo.
The airliner’s disappearance halfway through a two-hour flight between Surabaya, Indonesia, and Singapore triggered an international search for the aircraft involving dozens of planes, ships and helicopters. It is still unclear what brought the plane down.
The plane needs to be located and its cockpit voice and flight data recorders recovered before officials can start determining what caused the crash.
Images of the debris and a bloated body shown on Indonesian television sent a spasm of anguish through the room at the Surabaya airport where relatives awaited news.
The first sign of the jet turned up about 10 miles from its last known coordinates. Parts of the interior, including the oxygen tank, were brought to the nearest town, Pangkalan Bun. Another find included a bright blue plastic suitcase, completely unscratched.
“I know the plane has crashed, but I cannot believe my brother and his family are dead,” said Ifan Joko, who lost seven family members, three of them children. “We still pray they are alive.”
First Adm. Sigit Setiayanta, commander of the Naval Aviation Center at Surabaya Air Force base, told reporters six corpses were spotted about 100 miles from Central Kalimantan province.
Rescue workers descended on ropes from a hovering helicopter to retrieve bodies. Efforts were hindered by 6-foot waves and strong winds, National Search and Rescue Director SB Supriyadi said.
The first body was later picked up by a navy ship. The number varied with different officials providing information.
Supriyadi said he was on the aircraft and saw what appeared to be more wreckage under 65 to 100 feet of clear water.
When TV broadcast an image of a half-naked man floating in the water, a shirt partially covering his head, many of the family members screamed and wailed uncontrollably. One middle-aged man collapsed and was carried out on a stretcher.
About 125 family members were planning to travel Wednesday to Pangkalan Bun to start identifying their loved ones.
AirAsia group chief executive Tony Fernandes said he planned to travel to the recovery site Wednesday.
“I have apologized profusely for what they are going through,” he said of his contact with relatives. “I am the leader of this company, and I have to take responsibility. That is why I’m here. I’m not running away from my obligations.”
The jet’s last communication indicated the pilots sought permission to climb above threatening clouds but were denied because of heavy air traffic. Four minutes later, the jet disappeared from radar without issuing a distress signal.
Several countries rushed to Indonesia to help with search and recovery efforts. The United States said it was sending the USS Sampson destroyer.
