AirAsia investigators: no evidence of terrorism

SURABAYA, Indonesia, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Indonesian transportation safety official said there is no evidence so far that terrorism played a role in the crash of AirAsia flight 8501.

Officials who analyzed the aircraft's black boxes said the pilots were too busy trying to regain control of the plane to send a distress signal. Transport safety committee investigator Andreas Hananto told BBC there was "no threatening voice on board."

Investigators also said there was no signs of gunfire or explosions on the plane's cockpit voice recorder. There was also no sign of pilot suicide.

The plane went down on Dec. 28 in the Java Sea flying to Singapore from Surabaya. Authorities think the plane was damaged during a violent storm. Hananto said some information indicated there was bad weather, but the rest of the data needs to be examined. Investigators have only transcribed half of the information from the cockpit voice recorder but have listened to all of the conversations.

At the same time, divers are continuing efforts to reach the aircraft's fuselage. Rough seas have hindered days-long efforts to reach the 85-foot long main section of the plane. So far, 53 bodies have been recovered. Many of the remaining are thought to be inside the fuselage.

Authorities said a preliminary crash report will be issued on Jan. 28.