BANGKOK, March 16 – The Royal Thai Navy today resumed search operations for the missing Malaysian jetliner flight MH370 as requested by the Malaysian government.
Admiral Thaweewut Pongpipat, the navy chief of staff, said the navy operation centre has instructed its personnel to resume searching for the Boeing 777-200 aircraft that went missing more than a week ago, after they announced the suspension of the search yesterday.
The Saturday’s decision followed the remarks of the Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak that the aircraft’s disappearance was apparently deliberate and that the plane could have ended up as far as Kazakhstan or into the southern reaches of the Indian Ocean.
However, after learning that the Thai navy intended to cease search operations, ADM Thaweewut said, the Malaysian government asked the Thai navy to continue the mission which will remain in Andaman Sea.
ADM Thaweewut said today the navy’s Dornier DO 228 aircraft will scan the Andaman Sea 50 miles off the coastline of Thailand’s Phuket Island.
Super Lynx helicopters may also be used to support operations which focus on aerial search as it covers more area.
HTMS Pattani will be dispatched to the suspected areas if any traces or debris are found, according to the admiral, adding that HTMS Khamronsin of the Navy Region 3 is also on standby.
