Tokyo(GNA)-A four-member team will go to Malaysia to prepare for Japan’s help in the search for the Malaysia Airlines jet that went missing Saturday, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said Tuesday.
The team, which includes Self-Defense Forces personnel, will leave Japan early Wednesday.
After arriving in Kuala Lumpur, members of the team will hold talks with Malaysian government officials for the search activity.
An Air Self-Defense Force C-130 transport plane will be sent to help search for the missing jet once Japan receives an official request from Malaysia.
It will be the first time that the SDF has been sent overseas to search for a missing aircraft.
The commercial jet, carrying 239 passengers and crew members, disappeared over the South China Sea after departing from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing.
The United States, China and Singapore among other countries are involved in the search.
Onodera’s announcement came after he and three other key ministers from the new National Security Council met to discuss cooperation in the search for the missing plane.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference that Japan has received a request for assistance from the Malaysian government.
Source. Japan Times