Missing Malaysian jet – U.S. deploys destroyer – 239 passengers on board

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, American Politics, Headlines Saturday, March 8th, 2014

Several hours after a Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 777 disappeared somewhere over the waters between Malaysia and Vietnam early Saturday morning, the United States’ Navy has dispatched the USS Pinckney and a P-3C Orion aircraft to assist in the search.

The Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, carrying 239 passengers and crew members, was on its way to Beijing when air traffic controllers lost track of it not long after it left Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

As at the time of filing this report, China, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia were conducting search and rescue operations south of Tho Chu Island in the South China Sea, reported Xinhua, China’s official news agency. Ships, helicopters and airplanes were being utilised.

Reports stated that the families and loved ones of the 239 passengers and crew aboard as well officials expected the worst as they awaited any significant development, with Malaysian Prime Minister quoted to have said “I’d just like to say our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families,” during a press conference.

The CNN reported that the closest to a clue in the search for the missing commercial jetliner were traces of oil found in the ocean in the same area where contact was lost with the Malaysia Airlines flight.

A Vietnamese search plane was said to have spotted the oil while flying over the search area. The oil slicks are between 6 and 9 miles long and are suspected to be from the missing plane, the Vietnam government’s official news agency reported. The traces of oil were found about 90 miles south of Tho Chu Island, the report said.wp_posts