A family who missed their flight Sunday morning from Indonesia to Singapore by minutes thought they were down on their luck.
That was until an airport official told Christianawati and her 10-member family that their plane, QZ8501, had lost contact with air traffic control, reported Fairfax Media.
"We felt completely limp, the whole family," Christianawati said. "It was like we'd lost our spirit."
Christianawati's husband, Ari Putro Cahyono, had not checked emails or received phone calls from AirAsia informing him the flight would be leaving two hours earlier than the scheduled departure of 7:20 a.m.
Ari and his brother-in-law arrived together in the first of two cars at about 5 a.m., but they didn't attempt to board because they were waiting for the second car of relatives. They then tried to negotiate a later flight.
The flight took off and a few hours later the family was told what happened.
"I just remember those people who we saw running to the last call," Ari said. "I hope they find them. I really hope search and rescue finds them soon."
Ari said he considered what happened to his family a miracle, adding: "I believe God will provide the same miracle to all the families who are waiting for their loved ones."