"We have resumed the search for the missing AirAsia plane. We are heading to east Belitung island," Tatang Zainuddin, deputy operations chief of Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) told AFP.
"We are expecting vessels and planes from Malaysia and Singapore [to assist in the search]. We hope we can find the plane as soon as possible," Zainuddin said.
The Airbus A320-200 disappeared en route from Surabaya in Indonesia's east Java to Singapore after the crew requested a change of flight plan due to stormy weather.
Five aircraft will be sent to search for the plane, including two C130 military transport aircraft and a Boeing 737, Indonesian air force spokesman Hadi Cahyanto told AFP.
"Two planes have already left. Three more will follow suit. It is cloudy in some parts but still bright," Cahyanto said.
"We are focusing the search area in the waters on the eastern and northern part of Belitung island."
Officials had called off the search as night fell yesterday (December 28) evening, around 11 hours after the plane went missing.
AirAsia said 155 of those on board flight QZ8501 were Indonesians, with three South Koreans and one person each from Singapore, Malaysia, Britain and France. The Frenchman was the co-pilot.
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