A radar-equipped Atlantique aircraft of the Italian Navy is joining the search for a Maltese fishing boat reported missing on Saturday.
The 12-metre Simshar, with a five-man crew, had been due to return to Malta on Friday. Its crew last made contact on Wednesday.
The search be being concentrated west of Malta and south of Lampedusa.
Also involved in the search are an AFM twin-engined Islander aircraft and an AB212 helicopter of the Italian Miitary Mission based in Malta.