Vietnam on March 12 dispatched four aircraft and nine ships of different types to expanded positions in its territory along both edges of a planned air route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing taken by the missing Malaysian plane.

In addition, four planes and four ships from China, the US, Malaysia and Thailand were also dispatched, according to the Office of the National Committee for Search and Rescue.

The committee said the air force of Vietnam on March 13 will expand the search from the southern part of the maritime platform DK1 to the north of the overlapping waters of Vietnam and Malaysia. Three planes, including a patrol CASA and two AN 26 aircraft, are expected to join the search.

At sea, Vietnam will send seven ships.

Rumours that Malaysia has definitely detected the missing plane in an area north of the Malacca Strait have been denied by the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Consular Department and military attaches from Malaysia, Singapore and the US. However, Malaysia has expanded its search towards Malacca.-VNA