No Australians were on the AirAsia flight carrying 162 people that went missing over the Java sea on Sunday, the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, has confirmed.
“At this stage, I can confirm that there are no Australians on board,” Bishop said on Monday morning. “We are waiting for details of the [flight] manifest to determine whether there are any other linkages to Australia, [either] permanent residents or dual nationals,” she said.
Tony Abbott rang his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, on Sunday night to pledge Australia’s support in the search and rescue operation.
“The prime minister said he was very sorry to hear of the AirAsia flight QZ8501 tragedy and that there would be many Indonesian families who would be left bereft by this loss,” a statement released by Abbott’s office on Sunday night said. Australia would do “whatever we humanly could to assist”, it said.
Bishop said Australia had offered Indonesia the use of a military aircraft. “We have offered an RAAF P3 Orion,” Bishop said. “Australia stands ready to support Indonesia, should that be required.”
The defence force chief, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, said the aircraft left Darwin on Monday morning.
“The RAAF AP-3C Orion aircraft has a well-proven capability in search and rescue and carries maritime search radar coupled with infrared and electro-optical sensors to support the visual observation capabilities provided by its highly trained crew members,” Binskin said on Monday.
Tony Abbott told 2GB radio on Monday that providing material support was an integral part of the friendship between Australia and Indonesia.
The prime minister warned against comparing the plane’s disappearance with the disappearance of Malaysian flight MH370, which he called “one of the great mysteries of our time”. Abbott said it was clear that bad weather was the cause of the AirAsia plane’s disappearance.
Other countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and India, have offered to assist the search effort.
Bishop has spoken to her Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, who was Indonesia’s ambassador to the Netherlands when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 went missing in March.
“We were discussing how sad it was that so often when we speak it’s in relation to an emergency or a tragedy involving an airline,” Bishop said.
“Our focus at this point must be on locating the plane and then no doubt there will be a full investigation and inquiry into the causes of the incident. But at this stage we are just hoping and praying that some passengers and the crew can be rescued,” Bishop said.
“The search and rescue operation has been under way for some time, it was stopped overnight because of weather, so obviously the weather in the region is having an impact,” she said.
“It’s coming up 24 hours since the plane lost contact with air traffic control in Jakarta. So whilst we hope for the best as time goes on I’m afraid our fears may be confirmed.”
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said anyone with Australian connections concerned about family or friends should contact its 24-hour emergency number on 1300 555 135, or +61 2 6261 3305 if calling from overseas.
