UPDATED: US aircraft joins search for missing fishing boat

(Adds detail on flights)

An American PC-3 Orion aircraft today joined the search for a Maltese fishing boat missing in the centre of the Mediterranean. However there was no result by late afternoon.

The AFM said a total of 15 flights were made today by the Orion, an Italian military Atlantique aircraft, an AB 212 helicopter of the Italian Military Mission and an AFM Islander aircraft.

Contact with the boat, the 12-metre Simshar, was last made on Wednesday, when everything was reported normal on board. The boat had been due to return to Malta on Friday. Those on board include an 11-year-old boy, his father and grandfather and another two men, including an Ethiopian.

The search is being concentrated south east of Lampedusa.

"The search will continue tomorrow. However ,with the passing of time the likelihood of any sightings becomes significantly lower," the AFM said.