Navy Aids Search for Airliner

During the ongoing for traces of a Malaysian airliner that disappeared March 8, the Navy continued to do its part. The destroyers Pinckney and Kidd conducted search-and-rescue operations in the Gulf of Thailand, with two ship-borne MH-60R Seahawk helicopters using infrared pods to continue nighttime operations. A Kadena Air Base, Japan-based P-3 Orion provided long-range search, radar and communications support as well, while the fleet replenishment oiler John Ericcson provided logistical support. The Navy was coordinating its efforts with the Malaysian, Chinese, and Singaporean navies. The Malaysian Boeing 777-200 airliner was en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with 239 persons on board when it disappeared.