Rescuers continue Mayon trek to Cessna crash site

A search and rescue team is now traveling to the wreckage site of the Cessna aircraft that was reported missing in Bicol over the weekend, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Wednesday.

The team — composed of 11 Philippine Army members and six Bureau of Fire Protection personnel — was estimated to be 300 meters from the wreckage site as of 3 p.m.

According to CAAP, passengers of the plane will be airlifted to an undisclosed area for medical assessment once the team reaches the site and identifies them.

CAAP previously said the plane was carrying four people — the pilot, a crew member, and two passengers.

The plane departed Bicol International Airport at 6:43 a.m. last Saturday. The Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB) “positively identified the aircraft's wreckage” on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the AAIIB said the Cessna aircraft has recorded 13 accidents from 2019 to 2023 where a person is fatally or seriously injured, the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure, or the aircraft is missing or completely inaccessible.

The AAIIB said the aircraft also recorded 10 incidents. An incident is defined as an occurrence associated with the operation of the aircraft which affects or could affect the safety of the operation.

The aircraft also recorded 11 serious incidents or occurrences that involve circumstances that indicate a high probability of an accident.—LDF, GMA Integrated News