The Indonesian civil aviation chief says the debris spotted in the Java Sea belongs to missing AirAsia flight QZ8501.

possible AirAsia debris

Indonesian officials coming off a helicopter in Pangkalan Bun say they spotted several bodies floating in waters near where the missing AirAsia flight was last seen. The bodies were brought to an Indonesian navy ship.

AFP has also reported that a plane has spotted a 'shadow' on the seabed believed to be QZ8501.

#BREAKING Plane spots 'shadow' on seabed believed to be AirAsia jet: Indonesia search chief — Agence France-Presse (@AFP) December 30, 2014

Life vests, luggage and plane debris have also been found off the island of Borneo.

#BREAKING: The Indonesian civil aviation chief says the debris in the Java Sea is from the missing AirAsia plane. — Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) December 30, 2014

Photos have been circulating around news sites this evening of up to 10 pieces of debris belonging to misisng flight QZ8501.

Earlier, Indonesian television reported that items resembling an emergency slide and plane door were spotted in the sea.

#QZ8501: 10 big objects & many more small white-coloured objects spotted, says Indonesian air force official #AirAsia pic.twitter.com/g8KItBxn33 — New Straits Times (@NST_Online) December 30, 2014

Earlier today a New Zealand Air Force plane was deployed to join the international search for the missing plane.

Flight QZ8501 disappeared somewhere over the Java Sea after leaving Indonesia bound for Singapore. The multinational search included resources from Australia, France, China, Singapore, Malaysia and the US.

Floating debris spotted in same area as other items being investigated as possible objects from missing #QZ8501. AFP pic.twitter.com/LJrzVu8M6a — The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) December 30, 2014

Today was the third day of a search for the missing plane and its 162 passengers.