Singapore deploys another aircraft to find missing AirAsia plane

Singapore deployed Monday another Air Force (RSAF) C-130 aircraft to support the search operation of the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 in Indonesia.

The aircraft took off Monday morning while the frigate RSS Supreme and missile corvette RSS Valour sailed off at 11.55 p.m. Sunday, according to the Singapore Navy.

Second Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing said it was not the first time Singapore and Indonesia were working together, Xinhua reported.

"I believe that with the strong relationship that Indonesia and Singapore have built over many years, we will be able to work closely and execute the search and locate operation effectively," he said.

Earlier Sunday afternoon, Singapore had authorised an Air Force (RSAF) C-130 aircraft to join the search operation.

The aircraft took off at 5.20 a.m. (local time) from the Indonesian city of Surabaya and was to land at Singapore's Changi Airport at 8.30 a.m., officials said.

There were 155 passengers and seven crew members onboard the flight, with the only Singaporean being a two-year-old girl Zoe Choi, who was travelling with her father, Choi Chi Man, a British national.