A U.S. Sailor assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 46 prepares to launch a P-3C Orion aircraft March 17, 2014, before its mission to assist in search and recovery operations for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. U.S. Navy ships and aircraft were dispatched to assist a multinational search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared March 8, 2014, over the Gulf of Thailand with 239 people aboard.