USS Kidd Joins Search for Missing Airliner

The USS Kidd has joined the USS Pinckney in the Gulf of Thailand, where the two San Diego-based guided missile destroyers are searching for signs of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the Navy announced today.

Both destroyers departed Naval Base San Diego in Jan. 7 for independent deployments to the Western Pacific. On Saturday, the Navy announced that the Pinckney and its two helicopters moved toward Vietnam's southern coast to assist in the search for the Boeing 777 passenger jet that went down three days ago.

The jet went missing Friday Pacific Time while en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Beijing with 239 people on board. Vietnamese Air Force pilots on Saturday spotted a 12-mile-long oil slick in the Gulf Of Thailand, south of Vietnam.

Three American citizens were initially listed on the passenger manifest.

Navy officials said the Pinckney's two MH-60R helicopters are equipped for search and rescue missions.

The Kidd brings the same Arleigh-Burke Class capabilities of the Pinckney, according to officials.

The Navy has also sent a P-3C Orion aircraft, which have long-range search, radar and communications capabilities, from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.

—City News Service