This afternoon I spoke to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to convey Australia's condolences on the loss of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and offer our assistance with the search for the missing aircraft.
On behalf of Australia, I offered two RAAF P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft to help with the search for the missing aircraft.
Prime Minister Najib has accepted this offer.
The first Orion will depart for the search area this evening from Darwin. A second P-3C will be dispatched as soon as possible.
The P-3C Orion is a long-range maritime surveillance aircraft ideally suited to this task.
On behalf of Australia, I again offer my deepest sympathies to the families of the passengers and crew on board the Malaysian Airlines flight.
9 March 2014