How do countries salvage airplanes in distress at sea?

When the plane crash occurred the search and rescue were difficult. Especially in the case of aircraft falling into the sea, salvage requires modern equipment such as robots, positioning buoys, satellite devices, underwater probes, lifting buoys . to be able to perform jobs after thousands of meters in the ocean.

Aircraft carrying the number 1549 of US Airways during the salvage process - (Photo: Reuters)

The work of recovering the wrecked plane and finding the body of the victim who died in that tragedy often takes a long time, even a few months or a few years. Along with that is extremely costly but sometimes not get satisfactory results.

For example, the salvage of aircraft encountering AF447 in France cost about 42 million USD. To find the missing plane MH370 of Malaysia Airlines Airlines, the countries spent 100 million USD without showing any positive signs.

How was AirAsia QZ8501 salvaged?

On December 28, 2014, AirAsia's QZ8501 numbered aircraft fell into the sea, killing all passengers and crew members.

After finding the body of the machine, the salvage team approached the QZ8501 fuselage on February 20, 2015. The next day they were able to tie a bag capable of lifting heavy objects up to 10 tons into the wreck.

Initially lifting the plane was difficult when the currents were strong at a depth of about 7m below the water surface and the sharp edges of the aircraft exit door cut off the rope connecting the lifting bag to the fuselage. It wasn't until February 27 that the salvage team succeeded in lifting the majority of AirAsia aircraft compartments and wings.

So far the search team has recovered 103 bodies out of a total of 162 ill-fated victims of this flight.

A crane unloading the QZ8501 aircraft fragment was salvaged from the rescue ship to the port - (Photo: AFP)

Drop 6,000m deep cable to salvage the aircraft

The Airbus A330-230 carrying the Air France number AF447 was in distress while traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris with 228 people on board on June 1, 2009. After 23 months and using statistical probabilities combined with analysis to locate the French authorities to locate the body of the AF447.

France sent the French ship Ile de Sein and the robot Remora to carry out this difficult salvage work. This ship has the ability to drop cables down to a depth of 6,000m and lift objects weighing up to 10 tons.

The French Remora robot has recovered 104 bodies and debris, including black boxes and engines from the plane position falling at a depth of 3,900 meters from April to June 2011.

Earlier after the accident, France had recovered 50 bodies of ill-fated victims of AF447 flight. However, there are still 75 people on the flight that are missing until today.

Part of the Air France wing AF447 - (Photo: Reuters)

Salvage aircraft 1549 of US Airways

On January 15, 2009, Airbus aircraft of US Airways (USA) with the number 1549 carried 150 passengers and 5 crews to meet the emergency on the river by flying birds. Luckily everyone escaped the plane and boarded the lifeboats to shore.

The salvage operation of the aircraft was hampered by swirls and ice due to the cold weather but eventually succeeded in the evening of 17-1.

The salvage team dived to tie the cable to the sinking aircraft and a large crane completed the rest.

Aircraft carrying the number 1549 of US Airways in the process of salvage - (Photo: AFP)