Indonesia has requested help from the United States to search for a missing AirAsia jetliner, US officials said earlier today, amid fears the aircraft crashed into the sea.
The State Department also confirmed that no Americans were on Flight QZ8501, which disappeared on Sunday over the Java Sea with 162 people on board.
“Our embassy in Jakarta is in close contact with Indonesian officials, and today, we received a request for assistance locating the airplane,” said Jeffrey Rathke, a State Department spokesman.
“We are reviewing that request to find out how best we can meet Indonesia´s request for assistance.”
He noted it would take “a little bit of time” to evaluate the request, without detailing what kind of aid — military or otherwise — the United States might provide.
