FRIDAY FOTO (January 9, 2015)

Grim Search.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brett Cote

Naval Aircrewman 2nd Class Cody Witherspoon  keeps a lookout as his MH-60R search and rescue helicopter returns to guided missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102). Sampson is supporting Indonesian-led search efforts to locate AirAsia Flight 501, which disappeared from radar screens halfway through a two-hour flight between Surabaya, Indonesia, and Singapore on December 28.  Sampson aided in the discovery of a debris field on December 30. An international rescue (later recovery) effort located some wreckage, including the plane’s tail section, on January 6 in the waters of the Java Sea off Borneo. So far the bodies of more than 40 passengers have been found on the surface. The Airbus A320-200 jet was carrying 162 passengers and crew.  Witherspoon is assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35,