The Malaysian Amateur Radio Emergency Service Society (MARES / 9M4CME) has called on hams in and around India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Thailand to participate in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER aircraft (registration 9M-MRO ) Flight MH370. The airliner with 239 passengers aboard has been missing since March 8. Investigators believe the plane was diverted on purpose by someone who knew how to turn off the aircraft’s communication and tracking systems.

An initial search-and-rescue operation took place in the South China Sea, but the search area expanded significantly over the weekend to the vicinity of the Malacca Strait, Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. “MARES is calling all ham stations, especially those from the countries within the search area, to participate in a daily reporting session,” the organization announced March 16. “The objective is for ham stations to provide any sightings, information or evidence that might help the authorities to find the missing MH370.”

Nets have been established from 1300 to 1500 UTC on 14.250 MHz and 21.250 MHz. Outside of net sessions, MARES requests any urgent traffic be routed to it via e-mail. MARES said it will forward all information and evidence obtained to the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation and Malaysian National Security Council. No trace of the plane has been located since its disappearance less than an hour after it took off from Kuala Lumpur on its way to Beijing.