MONTHS ago they were praying for passengers and crew on board missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. Now, they taste a similar fate.
In a series of now-haunting social media posts, the flight attendants on board AirAsia flight QZ8501 shared their angst over the mystery surrounding the vanished Boeing.
Oscar Desano, a proud steward with AirAsia who last night remained among the missing, boasts a Twitter account teaming with happy snaps from his adventures around the world.
“Pray for Malaysia Airlines flight number MH370 Boeing 777-200 bound for Beijing, who have lost contact…,” he wrote on March 8.
Just 295 days later he too would find himself aboard a Malaysian commercial jet which had lost contact with air control.
He wrote on July 17, following the downing of MH17 by a ground-to-air missile: “I feel truly sorry for the loss of MH17 by Malaysia Airlines. It’s been two big catastrophic event for (Malaysia Airlines) in one year.
“My deep condolences also for the (passengers’) family, may all the casualties rest in peace.
“Hope everything will be OK also for the internal company of Malaysia Airlines. Amen.”
In a post on Christmas Eve he tweeted: “Peace, goodwill and happiness for you.”
In the chairs straddling the aisles walked by Desano and his colleagues were young lovers, holidaymakers and families travelling to visit their relatives.
Some of them were hysterical amid chaotic scenes at Changi airport, gathering in wait for an aircraft that never arrived.
They hugged and cried and hoped against all hope that flight QZ8501would reach its final destination safely.
Up the front of the plane was captain Iriyanto and his first officer Remi Emmanual Plesel.
The pilot in charge had logged 6,100 hours of flying time. Plesel is listed on the United States’ Federal Aviation Authority website as being a licensed private pilot of single-engine aircraft.
According to AirAsia he had flown 2,275 hours.
Alongside Oscar Desano were Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi, Wismoyo Ari Prambudi and senior flight attendant Wanti Setiawati.
Saiful Rakhmad was the plane’s engineer.
A Facebook page believed to belong to him shows a WWII-era plane in mid-flight and includes welcome messages to friends who had recently joined him at AirAsia.
Tragically, the manifest from AirAsia last night revealed 16 children and one infant on board.
An unimaginably lucky 23 people were listed as “no shows” for the doomed flight.
Young Boby Hartanto Winata was not so fortunate.
The cartoon, soccer and car-racing fan checked in with relative Ingrid Winata.
Boby’s Facebook reveals a portrait of a typical teenage boy.
He shared with the world his stresses over school exams. The Surabaya local supported Manchester United and FC Barcelona.
Devout Indonesian office employee Inge Goreti Ferdiningsih was among the 23 people with tickets who, for some reason, did not check in.
She did not return The Daily Telegraph’s calls last night.
AirAsia workers scrambling for answers also took to social media to voice their despair.
“Please come back home QZ8501,” wrote Syamil Fauzi.
Michelle Clemency, a Surabaya native who was attending high school in India, was also listed among the missing.
Fellow passenger Fransisca Liem wrote last month: “One day you’ll be just a memory for some people, do your best to be a good one.”
“AirAsia regrets to confirm that QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact at 07.24hrs this morning.”
Airasia Indonesia
“Very sad to hear that AirAsia Indonesia QZ8501 is missing. My thoughts are with the families. Malaysia stands ready to help.”
Malaysian PM Najib Razak
“Thank you for all your thoughts and prays (sic). We must stay strong.”
AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes
“The plane had asked to shift from its flight path because of bad weather, and elevate to 38,000 feet. The plane was in good condition. The weather over there wasn’t good. We don’t dare to presume what has happened except that it has lost contact.”
Indonesian aviation director-general Djoko Murjatmodjo
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all family and friends of those on board QZ8501”.
Malaysia Airlines
“I have expressed our deep concerns for the passengers and crew on board that flight and our thoughts and prayers are with their families. It’s always deeply concerning when you hear news such as this ... we hope and pray that there will be survivors.”
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop
“Our lightning data has some strikes near the path of @AirAsia flight #QZ8501 between 23.09 and 23.20.”
Weatherbug
“Leaked photo of ATCscreen on #QZ8501, it ended up at 36,300ft and climbing but ground speed only 353 knots! Uh oh!’’
Indonesian aviation expert Gerry Soenjatman
“We pray together with hope that the AirAsia plane QZ8501 SBY-Sin, which lost contact, is soon found and all passengers and crew have survived.”
Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla
“We are aware of reports of the Air Asia flight QZ 8501 incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and the affected families. We are aware of reports of a British national on board and we are liaising urgently with the local authorities to establish further details.”
British government spokesperson Faye Belnis
source from: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/
source from: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/
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