A vessel with people on the deck was spotted by a maritime patrol plane on Wednesday with a Border Protection Command plane sent to its aid unable to find the boat. Authorities launched a large search involving RAAF planes, Navy vessels and merchant ships about 65 nautical miles north west of Christmas Island, where the asylum boat was last seen. Crew of a RAAF plane involved in the search and rescue mission spotted what looked like a body in a life jacket in the water at about 8pm on Friday night. A Navy vessel reached the scene of the sighting within an hour but the crew was unable to locate the suspected body. Nine asylum seekers are believed to have drowned after a boat sunk off Christmas Island. The first ships to arrive found a debris field. A third aircraft was expected to join the rescue effort which was being coordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Rescue Coordination Centre. Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare's spokesman said it was too early to confirm whether a vessel had sunk or if there had been any loss of life. "Border Protection Command assets are currently conducting a search approximately 65 nautical miles northwest of Christmas Island for a possible foundered vessel," the spokesman said. The search is being coordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Rescue Coordination Centre. ‬ The weather was reasonable off Christmas Island this week. In the first week of June 660 asylum seekers reached Australia with more than 11,300 arriving so far in 2013 with the record influx stretching Australian authorities.