A US Navy maritime patrol aircraft spent five hours this afternoon flying at 1,500 feet over the Huvadhoo sea, helping search for three men missing since Wednesday night when the dhoni Friend 4 — carrying stones and gravel from Laamu to Huvadhoo Atoll — capsized.

The missing are the captain Mohamed Hamdhoon, MNDF Fire and Rescue Staff Sergeant Ibrahim Ahmed, and Police Sergeant Ali Nafiu, who were inside the hull pumping out water when a wave flipped the vessel. Everyone who jumped clear was rescued, and drone searches have continued nonstop, recovering drifting sacks and debris so far.