India air force on standby over missing Malaysia plane

India air force on standby over missing Malaysia plane

India's air force was on standby Wednesday to search for the Malaysia Airlines plane that disappeared five days ago, as the president said the country was ready to provide any help needed.

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Indian Air Force spokesman Gerard Galway said planes were ready to deploy to scour the waters west of Malaysia for the passenger plane MH370 carrying 239 passengers and crew.
 
"We have not received any task (as of now) but in case there is a requirement, our aircraft will be deployed to assist in the search operations," Galway told AFP.
 
India's President Pranab Mukherjee said the country was ready to offer any assistance required and that officials were in constant contact with
 
Malaysia over the plane's disappearance.
 
"We appreciate the efforts of the government of Malaysia to locate the missing aircraft and are ready to provide any help needed," Mukherjee's office said in a statement.
 
A foreign ministry spokesman said Malaysia had accepted India's offer of assistance and details on what form that might take were still being worked out between the two sides.
 
"We are (still) coordinating details with the Malaysian side," spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said.
 
Mukherjee's office said the president had spoken with Malaysia's king, expressing his "deep concern and sympathy" over the plane, which was carrying five Indian nationals among its passengers.
 
- Sapa

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