Co-pilot flying AirAsia jet before crash

The French first officer of an AirAsia passenger jet that crashed into the sea last month was at the controls just prior to the accident, Reuters quoted Indonesia’s lead investigator as saying on Thursday. “The co-pilot, who usually sits to the right of the cockpit. At the time, he was flying the plane,” said head National Transport Safety Committee (NTSC) investigator Mardjono Siswosuwarno, referring to First Officer Remi Plesel. “The captain, sitting to the left, was the pilot monitoring.” Captain Iriyanto, 53, was believed to have taken over control of the aircraft from Plesel when it started to ascend and then descend sharply.