A rudder control system problem that had occurred 23 times in the previous 12 months coupled with the pilots’ response led to last year’s crash of an AirAsia plane that killed all 162 people
In the past few years, Southeast Asian airlines have experienced remarkable growth, driven primarily by the rapid expansion of low-cost carriers, like AirAsia.
Family members of those aboard AirAsia Flight 8501 collapsed in agony as images of debris and a bloated body flashed across Indonesian television screens.
A Chinese netizen posted a flurry of warnings from Dec. 15 to 17, saying not to take flights on Malaysia Airlines or AirAsia. The user wrote in Chinese, “Lives are at stake. Please pay attention.”
Several hours of searching Indonesian waters turned up no sign of an AirAsia plane that disappeared Sunday with 162 people on board in airspace possibly thick with dense storm clouds, strong winds and lightning, officials said.