Additional Assets Deployed To The Region In Search For Downed Airliner

The U.S. Navy is providing support to Indonesia in the search and recovery of AirAsia Flight QZ8501.

The Navy has pushed its newest and most capable platforms forward in support of this important effort. USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) arrived in the search area Jan. 3 and has commenced search efforts for Air Asia flight QZ8501 at the request of the Indonesian government.

USS Fort Worth joins the guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102), which has been on station since Dec. 29.

Fort Worth is the littoral combat ship (LCS) on a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet and brings maneuverability, speed and a shallow draft, which allows her to conduct expeditious visual and radar searches in a congested, shallow water environment. Fort Worth is also outfitted with a MH-60R helicopter as well as two 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) to further maximize efforts.

USS Sampson has assisted with searches since she arrived on station Dec. 29. The crew recovered several bodies Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. The remains were treated with all respects to religious customs and sensitivities and all 12 bodies were transferred via the ship’s MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters to Indonesian authorities at Iskander Air Base in Pangkalan Bun, Indonesia.

Both ships will remain on station as long as their assistance is helpful to the Indonesian-led multinational search effort.

(U.S. Navy image of USS Fort Worth at Changi Naval Base, Singapore)

FMI: www.navy.mil