‘Soul destroying’ to see bodies, says AirAsia’s Tony Fernandes

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes ponders during a press conference at Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014. AP

SINGAPORE — AirAsia Group founder and CEO Tony Fernandes said on Wednesday it was “soul destroying” to see the bodies and remains of the doomed flight QZ8501.

“Reality of seeing the evacuees and some of my aircraft parts are soul destroying,” Fernandes said in a tweet.

“But we stay strong for the families, Allstars (AirAsia staff) and our guests,” he added.

reality of seeing the evacuees and some of my aircraft parts are soul destroying. But we stay strong for … https://t.co/AxTNI2Hxvb

— Tony Fernandes (@tonyfernandes) December 31, 2014

He said he was on his way back to Surabaya, where the flight had taken off on Sunday morning en route to Singapore, shortly before plunging into the Java Sea amid stormy weather. “On my way back to Surabaya. I’m touched again by the warmth of everyone in Indonesia and so impressed with Basenas and army,” tweeted Fernandes, referring to Basarnas, Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency which is leading a multinational operation to locate and recover the remains of the flight and everyone onboard.

On my way back to Surabaya. I’m touched again by the warmth of everyone in Indonesia and so impressed with Basenas and army. — Tony Fernandes (@tonyfernandes) December 31, 2014

RELATED STORY

Wreckage, bodies reveal AirAsia jet’s fate days after it disappeared