Dec. 30--Two San Diego-based Navy ships have been sent to assist in recovery efforts for the Indonesia AirAsia passenger jet that authorities said Tuesday went down in the Java Sea.
Both ships were in the region for training.
The destroyer Sampson arrived in the search area Tuesday and was "prepared to assist in surface recovery efforts," Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told CNN. The Sampson has a helicopter squadron from North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado.
On Tuesday, the Navy also ordered the Fort Worth, a littoral combat ship, to assist in operations.
The Fort Worth was being prepared to deploy to the area from nearby Singapore and could be ready within two days, Kirby said.
U.S. military personnel were also preparing maritime patrol aircraft that could help investigators map the field of debris if requested, Kirby said.
