THE SAD SEARCH – AT 8:20 A.M. ET:  Now we know that the Malaysian airliner went down, we know where, and we see the aftermath.  From Fox: 

At least 40 bodies have been found in the area where AirAsia Flight 8501 last made contact with air traffic controllers, along with debris from the plane.

The bodies were found in the Java Sea about six miles from the plane’s last known point of contact. The plane disappeared Sunday with 162 people on board traveling from Surbaya, Indonesia to Singapore.

The bodies were were not wearing life jackets, according to Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Director, SB Supriyadi.

Rescue workers were shown on local TV being lowered on ropes from a hovering helicopter to retrieve bodies. Efforts were hindered by 6-foot waves and strong winds, Supriyadi said, adding that several bodies were later picked up by a navy ship.

"The warship Bung Tomo has retrieved 40 bodies and the number is growing. They are very busy now," a navy spokesman added.

Sky News also reports that the "shadow" of a jet has been spotted on the seabed.

COMMENT:  Please note that the Malaysian jet that disappeared last March is still missing.   That remains the great airliner mystery of our time.

December 30,  2014