Discovered the cause of AirAsia plane crash?

In the initial official comments on the reason for the crash of AirAsia flight QZ8501 released yesterday, Indonesian weather experts said that the formation of ice due to extreme weather could be the cause of the tragedy, according to The Malaysian Insider.

According to a 14-page report by the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), preliminary weather data showed that the plane flew into storm clouds, causing ice to form and damage the engine.

(Source: The Malaysian Insider)

Pre-flight weather reports also showed “worrying weather conditions” along the flight’s route, and satellite imagery showed temperatures at altitude of -80 to -85 degrees Celsius, the report said. These conditions are ideal for ice crystals to form in the clouds.

However, the meteorological report issued by Professor Edvin Aldrian, head of research and development at BMKG, is not yet the final conclusion on the cause of the accident.

"This is only an analysis of what could have happened, based on the meteorological data collected, and is not a final statement on the cause of the accident," said a BMKG representative.

Flight QZ8501 crashed into the Java Sea early last Sunday morning, en route from Surabaya to Singapore with 155 passengers, including 16 children and 1 infant.

So far, the bodies of 30 passengers have been found. The search for the wreckage of the crashed plane continues.

Most recently, Russia has joined the search team, along with search ships from Indonesia and Singapore, to search the area where the plane crashed./.

According to VNA