Indonesia Air Asia flight QZ 8501 loses contact with ATC

[whatmeworry]

I wonder if the disappearance of the plane is connected to other events in Indonesia today.

Jakarta: Indonesian police have arrested six people attempting to fly to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State group, officials say, the latest in a wave of potential sympathisers emerging from the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Those arrested at Jakarta's Soekarno Hatta airport at dawn on Saturday included a couple and their 10-year-old child, with police saying they were attempting to travel on fake passports.
The alleged organiser of the trip was also captured after the arrests.

Indonesia arrests six heading to Syria

 

[markis10]

26 no shows for the flight.

 

[feezable]

26 no shows for the flight.

What would be the number usually expected?

 

[JessicaTam]

So 176 booked for 150 travelling. That seems a high percentage, but then on reflection some with super cheap fares may have been ok to throw them away.

 

[PaulST]

I'm curious to know, does bad weather, no matter how bad it may be, bring down a modern airliner from >30,000ft? Obviously landing and takeoff is another story, but what sort of weather could suddenly bring down a tried-and-tested A320 from such an altitude? Bad enough weather to give the pax a fright, but not snap a wing off...etc.

I recall watching a doco where a 4-turbo-prop plane was flying into hurricanes so I figured they'd be exposing themselves to some of the stronger winds possible out there.

 

[Alanslegal]

I'm curious to know, does bad weather, no matter how bad it may be, bring down a modern airliner from >30,000ft? Obviously landing and takeoff is another story, but what sort of weather could suddenly bring down a tried-and-tested A320 from such an altitude? Bad enough weather to give the pax a fright, but not snap a wing off...etc.

If the weather was going to be that treacherous I'm sure they would divert around as best as they can. That said I'm super sure planes can handle many times more than what most lay passengers are willing or able to handle.

 

[markis10]

What would be the number usually expected?

It could be a normal number for an early morning LCC flight

 

[Pushka]

I know my son bought a cheapie fare and didn't expect to fly it as it was purchased to satisfy a visa requirement. We didn't fly a couple of sectors this year in Greece but took a ferry instead. Again cheapie non cancellable fares.

 

[Flying mermaid]

So sad - thoughts and prayers with families waiting for news.

 

[Mal]

So 176 booked for 150 travelling. That seems a high percentage, but then on reflection some with super cheap fares may have been ok to throw them away.

9 different PNRs related to no-shows it appears (based on the released passenger manifest). I don't think that's particularly odd.

 

[robd]

Passenger manifest -

http://www.dephub.go.id/public/0506_001 PAX AWQ8501.pdf

 

[markis10]

Passenger manifest -

http://www.dephub.go.id/public/0506_001 PAX AWQ8501.pdf

seq no 120 is different

 

[Globetrotter]

Passenger manifest -

http://www.dephub.go.id/public/0506_001 PAX AWQ8501.pdf

Pax named MERRY, MERRY is a bit odd. Just saying.

 

[defurax]

Pax named MERRY, MERRY is a bit odd. Just saying.

Might just be someone with a single name. I think IATA has specific rules for people with no first name/last name only.

 

[deka2]

Is it odd that a large number listed as seated on rows 1 to 3 were no shows?

 

[michaele]

Pax named MERRY, MERRY is a bit odd. Just saying.

99 is the same, Megawati, Megawati.

In any case, is this information often readily available? Would some unscrupulous person be able to use the booking ref. to be able to manage their bookings?

 

[vitagen]

Wow sad news indeed. I just landed in Singapore to this news.

 

[pagingjoan]

seq no 120 is different

And sequence 57.

 

[robd]

And sequence 57.

And 59 ...

 

[Kefci2000]

Very sad news

A lot of families by the look including 10 on same PNR

i read this was an all Y class flight?

Does P class mean something else on AIrAsia??