AirAsia 8501 , AirCrash

Here’s an updated, detailed overview of AirAsia Flight QZ8501, which tragically crashed on 28 December 2014 over the Java Sea:

#AirAsia8501

#QZ8501

Flight Details & Crash

Aircraft: Airbus A320‑216, registration PK‑AXC

Route: Surabaya (Indonesia) Singapore

Occupants: 162 (155 passengers, 7 crew); no survivors 

Last Contact: ~42 minutes after takeoff at cruise altitude (~FL320) 

Crash Site: Java Sea, near Karimata Strait 

#Airbus_A320_216

#RTLU

#RudderTravelLimiterUnit

#ECAM

Sequence of Events

1. At ~06:00 WIB, the rudder travel limiter system generated a master caution alert. This had occurred 23 times over the past year per maintenance logs .

2. Crew followed ECAM instructions to reset the Flight Augmentation Computers (FACs) three times.

3. On the fourth alert, the captain manually pulled the FAC circuit breakers — a non-standard action leading to autopilot and auto-thrust disengagement and reversion to Alternate Law, removing flight protections .

4. The aircraft then rolled sharply, entering a prolonged stall with the co-pilot at the controls .

5. A cockpit miscommunication — especially confusion over “pull down” commands between crew — prevented stall recovery; dual side‑stick inputs canceled each other .

6. The plane remained stalled and crashed into the sea, killing all aboard .

Findings from the Final Report

Technical glitch: A cracked solder joint in the Rudder Travel Limiter caused repeated FAC failures

.

Critical crew error: Improper FAC reset via circuit breakers triggered loss of protections and manual flight regime .

Crew resource management issues: The co-pilot mistakenly pulled the stick back on the captain’s command, worsening the stall .

No weather or terrorist involvement; cause was technical failure plus human factors   .

Search & Recovery

Wreckage was located off Pulau Tujuh/Pulau Nangka; black boxes (FDR & CVR) and fuselage sections were recovered by March 2015 .

Recovery operations retrieved 116 bodies; others remained unrecovered .

Legacy & Recommendations

Emphasis on training: Strengthened focus on manual flight recovery and circuit breaker procedures.

Maintenance reforms: Addressing recurring design issues; improved oversight by authorities (KNKT, ICAO).

Crew communication: Upgraded CRM training to avoid fatal misunderstandings in emergencies.

Would you like:

A flight path diagram or CVR/FDR summary?

A comparison with other air accidents, like AF447?

Insights into airline training and systems updates post-incident?