Debris, bodies spotted in search for missing plane

(Vatican Radio/Reuters) Indonesian rescuers have spotted bodies and luggage floating in the sea off the coast of Borneo island on Tuesday. Officials say they are "95 percent sure" the debris is from the missing AirAsia plane that disappeared Sunday with 162 people on board.

Indonesia AirAsia's Flight QZ8501, an Airbus A320-200, lost contact with air traffic control early on Sunday during bad weather on a flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore.

Pictures of floating bodies were broadcast on television and relatives of the missing gathered at the crisis centre in Surabaya were shown weeping, their heads in their hands.

Media quoted an air force official earlier as saying one suspected body, luggage and a life vest were among the debris in the Java Sea.

Djoko Murjatmodjo, acting director general of air transportation at the transportation ministry, told reporters some of the debris spotted was red and white, AirAsia's colours.

"It's probably from the aircraft," he said.

About 30 ships and 21 aircraft from Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and the United States are searching up to 10,000 square nautical miles on Tuesday.