Massive search A large number of planes and ships from several countries were scouring the area where the plane last made contact, about halfway between Malaysia and the southern tip of Vietnam. The search and rescue operations will continue as long as necessary, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. He said 15 air force aircraft, six navy ships and three coast guard vessels had been pressed into service by Malaysia. The Beijing-bound plane went missing less than an hour after it took off from Kuala Lumpur. (CBC) Vietnam dispatched two navy boats from Phu Quoc island and sent two jets and one helicopter from Ho Chi Minh City to search for the missing airliner. It was readying a further seven planes and nine boats to join the search effort. Other than Vietnamese and Malaysian search operations, China and the Philippines have also sent ships to the region to help. The United States, the Philippines, and Singapore also dispatched military planes. China has also put other ships and aircraft on standby, said Transport Minister Yang Chuantang. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing that China was extremely worried about the fate of the plane and those on board. Search and rescue vessels from the Malaysian maritime enforcement agency reached the area where the plane last made contact at about 4:30 p.m. local time but saw no sign of wreckage, a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency told Reuters. The 11-year-old Boeing, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines, took off at 12:40 a.m. from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and was apparently flying in good weather conditions when it went missing without a distress call.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 17:51:50 +0000
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