Japan
Japan and Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370
On Saturday, 8 March 2014 Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 00:42 am (MYT) and was expected to arrive in Beijing at 6:30 am (MYT). The Boeing 777-200ER was carrying 12 crew and 227 passengers. Communication with the aircraft was lost when it was in the vicinity of waypoint IGARI over the South China Sea. Instead of proceeding toward Vietnam en-route to China the aircraft made a turn-back west across the Malay Peninsula; changed direction again and flew north west towards the Andaman Sea; and then turned south. Flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.
The initial search for MH370 began in the South China Sea, east of Malaysia, and continued until 15th March. Japan contributed five aircraft to support the search for MH370 east of Malaysia
Japan continued contributing to the search for MH370 in the Indian Ocean during the phase defined by the 'southern corridor' and also later in the southern Indian Ocean[1].
Update Concerning Search Operation Assistance by Japan on the Missing MH370 Flight (as of 26th March 2014)
26 March 2014
Acceding to request made by the Malaysian government, the Japanese government has dispatched the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) team consisting of two C-130 aircrafts, two P-3C aircrafts and a Gulfstream V jet to Kuala Lumpur since 13th this month, to be involved in the search and rescue operation to locate the missing MH370 aircraft.
On 23rd of March, two P-3C aircrafts have moved from the Subang Air Base to Pearce Air Base, following another request made by the Malaysian government. Both aircrafts have since started their search and rescue operation along the off the southwest coast Australia.
The Gulfstream V jet has joined the rest of the SAR team in Perth on the 26th of March.
Meanwhile, both C-130 aircrafts have completed their missions on the 24th of March and have returned to Japan the following day. They will be on standby for any next course of action required.
Source: https://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/English/Other/MH370270314.html
References
- ↑ Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), The Operational Search for MH370, 2017