QZ8501 rescue team confirms finding part of doomed jet's tail

The tail of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 which crashed into the Java Sea has been found, Indonesian search and rescue chief confirmed.

Bambang Soelistyo told the press in Jakarta that the team had "successfully obtained" the tail of the plane that had been their target. He said that he was sure of the discovery after seeing photographs of the underwater wreckage, on which the company logo can be seen, reported News.com.au.

The finding is vital and could mark a breakthrough in the search operation as the tail of a plane usually houses the "black box" flight data recorders, crucial to determining the cause of a crash.