Retrieval ops for Cessna crash victims in Bicol would take 3 more days — mayor

Three more days are needed to bring down from Mayon Volcano the bodies of the victims of the Cessna plane crash, Camalig, Albay Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo Jr. said Monday.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Baldo said the four remains were already placed inside body bags and rescuers now only need to bring the cadavers in an area where a helicopter can pick them up.

“Baka po mga tatlong araw pa (retrieval operation). Magkakabit po ulit mga ng lubid hanggang doon sa bababaan at mailagay po doon. So puwedeng daanan na lang ng chopper na i-hoist na lang po ito,” he said.

(It may take three more days. We will have to place ropes up to the lower part of the mountain and bring the cadavers there. So our chopper can hoist them.)

According to Baldo, the retrieval personnel carrying the bodies already trekked 300 meters from the crash site.

Earlier, Baldo said thick clouds and dangerous terrain were hampering the retrieval of the bodies.

The four bodies were found on Thursday days after the Cessna 340 plane crashed in Mayon, an active volcano.

On February 18, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Bicol International Airport air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane carrying four people — the pilot, a co-pilot, and two passengers.

CAAP said the aircraft with registry number RP-C2080 departed Bicol International Airport at 6:43 a.m. Air traffic controllers last contacted it at 6:46 a.m. when it was approaching the Camalig Bypass Road at an altitude of 2,600 feet.

The plane was expected to arrive in Manila at 7:53 a.m.

The fatalities were identified as pilot Captain Rufino James Crisostomo Jr. and co-pilot Joel G. Martin, and passengers Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam, both foreigners. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News