SOUTHCOM joins search for missing Air France flight

U.S. Southern Command offered to help in the search and once the Brazilian officials accepted that offer, a Navy P-3C Orion was sent to help.

The maritime patrol aircraft and 21 crewmembers left their forward operating location in Comalapa Air Base, El Salvador, where they were supporting regional illicit trafficking detection and reporting operations.

They arrived in Brazil today and will work search for Air France Flight 447 from Augusto Severo Airfield in Natal, Brazil.

The command also directed a combat rescue officer from Joint Task Force-Bravo, located at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, to Recife, Brazil, where he will assist the Brazilian Rescue Coordination Center with the coordination of rescue assets.