Search for any signs of the missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft in the Australian Search and Rescue Region is now underway, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in a statement on Wednesday.

A total of six countries are now assisting in the search and recovery operation – Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Japan, China and the Republic of Korea.

A total of seven military and five civil aircraft will be involved in Wednesday's search activities.

One Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft from China departed Perth around 8am for the search area.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P3 Orion aircraft NZ P-3K2 departed for the search area around 9.10am.

A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P3 Orion is scheduled to depart Perth around 11am.

A US Navy P8 Poseidon is due to depart around 2pm. A Japanese P3 Orion is due to depart Perth around 3pm.

A second RAAF P3 Orion is scheduled to depart for the search area around 4pm.

A Republic of Korea P3 Orion is due to depart around 5pm. Two civil aircraft have now departed Perth for the search area.

he remaining three civil aircraft will depart for the search area between 10am and midday.

A total of 34 State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers from Western Australia will be air observers on board the five civil aircraft. HMAS Success and China's polar supply ship Xue Long are now in the search area.

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