US Navy’s littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth joins USS Sampson (DDG 102) in helicopter search and recovery operations as part of the Indonesian-led efforts to locate missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501.
USS Sampson has assisted with searches since she arrived on station Dec. 29. The crew recovered several bodies Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. The remains were treated with all respects to religious customs and sensitivities and all 12 bodies were transferred via the ship’s MH-60R helicopters to Indonesian authorities at Iskander Air Base in Pangkalan Bun, Indonesia.
Both ships will remain on station as long as their assistance is helpful to the Indonesian-led multinational search effort.
Press release, Image: US Navy
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