Najib hopes search mission will continue 'in whatever condition'

Messages of condolences and sadness were shared by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak following the discovery of the debris from the crash of the AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501 Tuesday.

Najib hoped the search mission would be continued in whatever condition besides urging the families of the victims to accept the major challenge calmly.

"The government representing all Malaysians expresses its sadness and condolences to the families of victims of the tragedy although some have yet to be found.

"I hope all search efforts will continue to be carried out in whatever condition. To those who have lost their loved ones, be strong in facing this great challenge," he said at a media conference after launching the Wanita UMNO Flood Cleaning Squad at Menara Datuk Onn, here.

The Airbus 320-200 aircraft with 162 passengers and crew members on board departed from Surabaya at 5.35am on Sunday and was scheduled to arrive in Singapore at 8.20am but lost communication with the Indonesian Air Traffic Control Tower at 7.24am.

The passengers and crew on board the aircraft comprised 155 Indonesian nationals, three South Koreans and one national each from Singapore, Malaysia, Britain and France.

The Indonesian aviation authorities on Tuesday confirmed that the discovery of debris and bodies on Pulau Jawa were from the ill-fated aircraft.