1st LD: Co-pilot flying AirAsia flight before crash

The French co-pilot was flying the AirAsia flight before it crashed into Indonesia's waters last month, investigators said here on Thursday.

Head of the investigators from the National Transport Safety Committee (KNKT) Mardjono Siswosuwarno said "The second-in- command or known as co-pilot, who usually sits to the right (of the cockpit). At the time, he was flying the plane. While the captain, sitting to the left, was the pilot monitoring.

Addressing a press conference at the office of the committee, Mardjono said that both the flight data recorder and the voice cockpit recorder indicated that the jet plane with flight number QZ8501 was flying within the limits of its weight and balance envelope before the crash.

"The plane was on sound condition for flight before the accident, and was flying within the limits of weight and balance envelope. All crews had valid licenses and medical certificates," said Mardjono. Endi