France offers assistance to investigate missing plane

PARIS -- France is ready to offer assistance to Malaysian authorities to investigate the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370, French Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

On Saturday, Minister for Transport Frederic Cuvillier has noted that the France's Bureau of Investigation and Analysis for Civil Aviation Security is willing to offer its help to the Vietnamese and Malaysian authorities in searching for the missing airplane.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Romain Nadal told a press briefing that France is "ready for an eventual assistance, in the case that Malaysian authorities expressed the hope (for help)."

Meanwhile, a French technical expert is working along with the director of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. "He works closely with local authorities," the spokesperson added.

Four French nationals were among the 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board the Malaysia Airlines flignt MH 370, when it lost contact with Subang Air Traffic Control last Saturday.

The multinational search for the missing plane has entered the fourth day as of Tuesday.

Vietnam, Malaysia and China among other countries have sent forces to search for the plane with 239 people onboard.

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