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HTMS Pattani searching for
missing Malaysian Airlines aircraft
Thailand has sent an offshore patrol vessel, HTMS Pattani, to
help in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines passenger jet in the
Andaman Coast.
Thai Navy commander Admiral Narong Pipatanasai said the HTMS Pattani was
patrolling off the Phangnga coast and was instructed to head to Malacca Straits
as requested by the Malaysian government to join search and rescue operations
for the Boeing 777 flight MH370.
HTMS Pattani began its search mission Monday morning, with 111 personnel
including the vessel’s crew, divers, a medical team and patrol aircraft pilots.
He said the search will continue until there is an order to stop the operations.
Earlier, the Malaysian authorities believe that the MK370 flight might have
crashed in lower Gulf of Thailand, in the Vietnam’s sea territory, or in the
Straits of Malacca, near the Andaman Sea.
The Singaporean and Vietnamese naval units are conducting search operations in
the gulf, while Thailand was asked to help search for the ill-fated flight in
the Andaman Sea.
Currently, a total of 34 aircraft and 40 ships are in hunt for the missing
plane. Among them are those sent by Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines,
Vietnam and China.
The USS Pinckney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer from the
United States, has also been deployed to the area with its two helicopters
equipped for search and rescue. The U.S. Navy also said it is deploying an Orion
aircraft based in Okinawa, Japan. It will bring long-range search, radar and
communications capabilities to the search mission. (MCOT)
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