Search for Missing AirAsia Jet Continues as US and China Sends Warships

Search for missing AirAsia Jet continues, as Indonesian search and rescue agency said that the search area between the islands of Sumatra and Borneo would be expanded and authorities would begin scouring islands in the area as well as land on Indonesia's side of Borneo.

Countries around Asia have also stepped up the search for the missing plane carrying 162 people that is presumed to have crashed in shallow waters, 50 to 100 meters deep, off the Indonesian coast.

The US is also sending a warship, the USS Sampson, a guided missile destroyer, to help in finding the missing jet. The US military said the warship would be on the scene later on Tuesday.

The U.S. Defense Department also stated that assistance to Indonesia "could include some air, surface and sub-surface detection capabilities".

China's Defence Ministry said it had sent a warship to the SouthChina Sea and planes for search operations.

The assistance from the U.S. and China is in addition to around 30 ships and 21 aircraft from Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.

The Airbus A320-200 operated by Indonesia AirAsia lost radar contact in poor weather on Sunday morning during a flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore.