US assistance sought in AirAsia flight search

A formal request has been made for U.S. help in searching for the AirAsia Flight 8501 that disappeared over the weekend, the Department of Defense said Monday.

“The Indonesian government has requested U.S. assistance in the search for AirAsia Flight 8501,” said Pentagon press secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby in a statement Monday.

“The details of that request, which was made through the U.S. State Department, are still being coordinated but could include some air, surface and sub-surface detection capabilities. We stand ready to assist in any way possible,” he said.

Earlier in the day, officials said they retained little hope of finding the plane.

“Our early conjecture is that the plane is in the bottom of the sea,” said Bambang Sulistyo, the head of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency.

{mosads}There were 162 people aboard the plane, an Airbus A320-200, when it lost contact with air traffic controllers Sunday morning from Indonesia to Singapore. Its pilot had reportedly requested an altitude climb based on bad weather, but his request was rejected due to another flight overhead.

The U.S.’s involvement, set to include aircraft, surface ships and underwater equipment, would help expand search efforts from the seven zones currently being patrolled to an additional four, according to CNN.

The State Department said Sunday none of the passengers are American.

The flight included 155 Indonesians, as well as three South Koreans, and one British, one French, one Malaysian and one Singaporean citizen. There were 18 children, including an infant, aboard the flight.

Other nations are also assisting in the search and recovery efforts.

France has sent two investigators to Indonesia, and China will dispatch aircraft and ships to participate as well. Singapore, Malaysia and Australia are also sending assets to assist in the search.

The plane went missing as it flew over the Java Sea, Indonesian authorities said.

The loss of contact of the plane comes less than a year after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on March 8. That plane has not yet been recovered.

AirAsia is headquartered in Malaysia, but the missing aircraft is operated by the company’s Indonesian affiliate. It is the first time one of the company’s planes has gone missing.

— Updated at 3:55 p.m.