Vietnam ready to join search for crashed Malaysian plane

An EC 225 aircraft of the Southern Helicopter Company

>> Vietnam Navy says Malaysia Airlines plane crashes off Tho Chu Island

The official, who is also Chief of the Secretariat of the National Committee for Search and Rescue, said the plane crashed in the Malaysian waters and the Malaysia authorities have yet to ask Vietnam to give coordination in the search for the crashed plane.

The plane was carrying 239 people from 14 countries from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it crashed 1:40 am local time (1840 GMT Friday)

According to the High Command of Navy, the plane went down in the waters between Vietnam and Malaysia, some 153 nautical miles (300km) off Tho Chu Island in Kien Giang Province.

Vietnam is ready to send forces to take part in the search when requested, Giang said.

The Committee has suggested the Vietnam Maritime Coordination Center to release messages calling vessels operating near the scene of the crash to help search the plane.

The committee also asked that air, naval, maritime police, border guard forces to be ready for taking part in search and rescue activities when there is a request from Malaysia.

The Rescue and Ravage Department has proposed the General Staff under the Defense Ministry to prepare an AN 26 plane and three helicopters for possible search and rescue activities.

These planes will take off from Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho and Ca Mau when they receive orders to take part in searching the crashed plane. 

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, a helicopter from Malaysia and a C130 plan from Singapore have been searching for the crashed plane.

Pham Hien, director of the Vung Tau Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, told Tuoi Tre that the center is also ready to joint efforts to search the plane.