BEIJING, March 11 -- Five Chinese search and rescue vessels, including two warships, were searching for missing flight MH370 as of 3 p.m. Beijing time, the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center said Tuesday.

The flotilla comprises two South China Sea rescue vessels, a marine police vessel, and naval vessels Jinggangshan and Mianyang.

He Jianzhong, deputy head of the emergency response team and vice minister of transport, said another three search and rescue vessels are expected to reach the region late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 left Kuala Lumpur at 0:41 a.m., Beijing time, on Saturday and was expected in Beijing at 6:30 a.m.

Contact with the flight was lost when it was over the Ho Chi Minh air traffic control area in Vietnam.

The flight was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, including 154 Chinese.