Search efforts: S'pore extends more help

Singapore

AS search operations for the missing AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501 entered a second day, Singapore extended additional assistance to Indonesia to aid search efforts, while AirAsia arranged for 11 next-of-kin of passengers to fly from Singapore to Indonesia.

A holding area for relatives has been set up in Changi Airport's Terminal 2, where regular briefings are carried out by AirAsia, Changi Airport Group and the Ministry of Transport (MOT). Some have opted to stay at home or in their hotels but are still being given updates and assistance, said MOT and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore in a joint statement. Sixteen next-of-kin had already flown to Indonesia on Sunday night.

Among the passengers on QZ8501 was Indonesian Yuni Astutik, 40, a domestic helper who was travelling to Singapore after attending a wedding in Indonesia. Speaking to the media on Monday at Changi Airport, the maid agency representing Ms Astutik said the Indonesian was married with children, and had worked in Singapore for four years. A Singaporean man also told reporters on Monday he would be flying to Surabaya to meet the family of his girlfriend, Florentina Maria Widodo, who had been on the ill-fated flight.…