Malaysia Airlines thanks Philippines for help in sea search

MANILA, Philippines — Malaysia Airlines (MAS), the owner of the missing flight MH370, thanked neighboring countries for offering assistance in the search and rescue operations.

"[The Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia] has confirmed that search and rescue teams from Australia, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines and the United States of America have come forward to assist," the company said in a statement Monday.

"We are grateful for these efforts," it added.

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The airline said that while authorities are focusing on the search for the possibly downed plane and survivors, its management's primary priority is to care for families of the 227 passengers on board.

"This means providing them with timely information, travel facilities, accommodation, meals, medical and emotional support. The costs for these are all borne by Malaysia Airlines," the airlines said.

While the Malaysian flag carrier has a near-spotless record in safety, it has been criticized for security flaws that could have allowed two passengers with allegedly stolen passengers to board the Boeing 777.

LIVE BLOG: Search for missing Malaysian plane

The Philippine government, meanwhile, had announced on Saturday that it would be deploying search and rescue teams in case the aircraft accidentally entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that he has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to join in the search "in the spirit of unity and humanitarianism."

He said that the country's effort to assist Malaysia, a close ally, is under the "possibility and assumption" that the said flight may have inadvertently veered off its path and entered Philippine territory."