Airasia Tragedy

Families of those killed in an AirAsia plane crash in Indonesia demanded today the airline apologise for negligence after a probe showed faulty equipment contributed to the accident, a year on from the tragedy that left 162 dead.

If AirAsia bounces back from its first fatal disaster, much of the credit will go to its effusive founder Tony Fernandes and a well-oiled communications machine.

Bangkok Airways was forced to cancel a flight over the new year period after a traditional fire lantern was found stuck to the plane's engine, the airline said today.

Investigators into the AirAsia flight which crashed into the sea off Indonesia are focusing on the timing of the crew's request to climb to a higher altitude to avoid bad weather as a possible factor behind the tragedy, a source close to the probe said.

Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia, whose aircraft disappeared with 162 people on board on Sunday, had claimed earlier this year that its planes "never get lost".

Families of those killed in an AirAsia plane crash in Indonesia demanded today the airline apologise for negligence after a probe showed faulty equipment contributed to the accident, a year on from the tragedy that left 162 dead.

If AirAsia bounces back from its first fatal disaster, much of the credit will go to its effusive founder Tony Fernandes and a well-oiled communications machine.

Bangkok Airways was forced to cancel a flight over the new year period after a traditional fire lantern was found stuck to the plane's engine, the airline said today.

Investigators into the AirAsia flight which crashed into the sea off Indonesia are focusing on the timing of the crew's request to climb to a higher altitude to avoid bad weather as a possible factor behind the tragedy, a source close to the probe said.

Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia, whose aircraft disappeared with 162 people on board on Sunday, had claimed earlier this year that its planes "never get lost".