AirAsia plane crash reports not true: Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Dec 28 (IANS) Malaysia's Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai dismissed claims that wreckage of the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 was found, media reported Sunday.

"I urge people to maintain calm and not listen to unverified news reports," The Star Online quoted him as saying.

Unconfirmed reports emerged that the wreckage, allegedly of the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501, has been found in the waters off East Belitung.

"There are plenty of speculations that they have found the plane. At this point of time, it is not true. We are still looking for the plane," he said.

AirAsia flight QZ8501 with 162 people on board disappeared Sunday amid thunderstorms while flying from Indonesia to Singapore, prompting a major search operation.

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The plane lost contact with the air traffic control somewhere between Kalimantan and Belitung island, an Indonesian transport ministry official said.

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