A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer is heading to the southern coast of Vietnam to assist in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet.
The USS Pinckney was conducting "training and maritime security operations" in international waters, according to the Pentagon.
The vessel carries two MH-60R helicopters which can be equipped for search and rescue, officials say.
The Pentagon is also sending a P-3C Orion aircraft from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, to aid the search effort.Courtney Kube of NBC News contributed to this report.
