Indian Navy has kept three ships and a maritime surveillance aircraft on standby for search and rescue operations for the AirAsia flight QZ8501 which has been missing since morning on Sunday.
Navy sources said one ship in Bay of Bengal and another two in Andaman Sea have been put on standby. Additionally a P-8I long range patrol aircraft has also been put on standby at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu.
“The assets are ready in all respects for deployment should there be orders from our government to join in the search for the missing airliner”, Navy sources have informed.
However, sources clarified that there was no official request so far from the Indonesian government. The assets have been asked to be ready as a precautionary measure to ensure quick response.