Miami, Florida - Two U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron FIVE (VP-5), the "Mad Foxes" are conducting flight operations today in support of search efforts for the missing cargo ship El Faro led by U.S Coast Guard 7th District Command Center in Miami.

VP-5 launched the first aircraft this morning at approximately 10 a.m., from Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Fla. It is scheduled to return this evening at 5:30 p.m. A second aircraft was launched at approximately 3:30 and is scheduled to fly through the evening. The aircraft are operating under the tactical control of Coast Guard 7th District.

Navy P-8A's are prepared to fly two missions again tomorrow.

The P-8A Poseidon is a long-range anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations.