Objects thought to have been wreckage from the missing AirAsia flight between Indonesia and Singapore have been discounted by officials coordinating the air and sea search.
AirAsia flight QZ8501 bound for Singapore lost contact with air traffic control half-way into its flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya, after the pilot requested a change of course due to severe weather.
"It has been checked and no sufficient evidence was found to confirm what was reported," Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla told a press conference at Surabaya airport, where the missing plane had departed from on Sunday.
"The government will not give up and is not giving a time limit for the search. What is important is to find the victims and the plane."
Aviation experts have suggested the plane, which left Indonesia on Sunday morning, may have been flying too slow in bad weather and stalled in the storm.
The plane was carrying 155 passengers on board – 137 adults, 17 children and one infant. Also on board were two pilots, four cabin crew and one engineer.
Most of the passengers were Indonesian but several were from other countries, including one UK national, a Malaysian, a Singaporean and three South Koreans.
Although Malaysia-based AirAsia has had a clean safety record so far, it is another blow to the country’s aviation industry following two major air disasters this year at rival Malaysia Airlines.
AirAsia’s CEO and founder Tony Fernandes tweeted: "My only thoughts are with the passengers and my crew. We put our hope in the SAR operation and thank the Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysian governments."
AirAsia has set up an emergency line for family or friends of those who may be on board. The number is +622 129 850 801.
