SURABAYA, Indonesia, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- AirAsia Flight QZ-8501 may have been detected at the bottom of the sea by sonar. Seven bodies have been recovered, including one crew member, from the Pacific Ocean.
Muhammad Hernanto, head of search and rescue for the city of Surabaya, told CNN sonar had located the wreckage, but has since amended his statement.
"I think that that's the case," he said.
The bodies were recovered Wednesday, one day after searchers made the grisly discovery of dead passengers and aircraft debris off the coast of the island of Borneo.
Indonesia confirms that debris from missing Flight QZ8501 has been found, airline says. http://t.co/6GIQnypXQD
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) December 30, 2014The bodies will be taken to hospitals in the city of Surabaya for identification.
One of those recovered was identified as a flight attendant wearing a uniform.
Aircraft debris was found in the Karimata Strait about 110 nautical miles south west from the Pangkalan Bun, AirAsia confirmed.
Sonar imagery located what appears to be the wreckage of the plane lying upside down on the ocean floor, though it's unclear if it's the majority of the aircraft.
All resources relocated to where the debris was located, about six miles away from the aircraft's last known location.
The recovery effort was being hampered by adverse weather conditions, poor visibility and strong waves.
Family members cried and some fainted as they watched a live news conference that showed debris from the plane and what appeared to be a body.
AirAsia flight QZ-8501 was flying to Singapore when it disappeared on Sunday after the pilots requested a flight plan change due to bad weather. The plane was carrying 162 people, mostly Indonesians.
