International Disaster Relief Operations for the Missing Malaysian Airplane

In the early hours of March 8, 2014, the air traffic control lost contact with Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. With the request for assistance from the Malaysian government on March 10, and based on consultation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defense decided to conduct international disaster relief operations on March 11.

The MOD and SDF dispatched a maximum of 90 personnel and two P-3C patrol aircraft and two C-130H Transport aircraft to Malaysia for search and rescue operations. After that, at the request of the Malaysian government, the two P-3C patrol aircraft moved to the west of Australia to continue the search and rescue operations.

During the activities, Australia provided fuels and aircraft parts to P-3C Patrol Aircrafts based on Japan-Australia Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).

On April 28, 2013, upon the announcement made by the Australian Prime Minister Abbott that Australia would proceed from the waterborne search to the ocean floor search, the Minister of Defense issued an order to terminate disaster relief activities, based on talks with the governments of Malaysia and Australia. The month-long activities were completed accordingly.

During the operations, the SDF dispatched a total of six aircrafts such as the P-3C patrol aircraft and C-130H transport aircraft , and approximately 130 personnel; engaged in search activities for 400 hours on a total of 46 occasions.