BANGKOK, March 8 -- The Thai navy is prepared to send three vessels and one aircraft to join the search and rescue mission for the missing Malaysian plane, navy spokesman Kan Deeubol said Saturday.

Navy chief Narong Pipathanasai has ordered the navy to be prepared to join the rescue at any time and the vessels and aircraft to be on standby, Kan was quoted by the Nation newspaper as saying.

But the Thai navy has not yet received a request for assistance from the Malaysian government, Kan said.

Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200 with 239 passengers aboard, took off from Kuala Lumpur at 00:41 a.m. local time Saturday and was due to arrive in Beijing at 6:30 a.m. The aircraft reportedly lost contact at around 2:40 a.m.