No survivors from Cessna plane crash in Isabela —rescue team

All six people onboard the Cessna plane that crashed in Isabela province were killed in the incident, the Isabela Incident Management Team said Thursday.

According to Atty. Constante Foronda, head of the management team, they were able to confirm this after the wreckage of the plane was found on Thursday following weeks of search operations.

“As soon as possible ibaba po natin yung mga labi ng mga pasahero, kumukuha na po kami ng clearance mula sa mga crime labs and sa Scene of the Crime Operatives,” Foronda said.

Engr. Ezikiel Chavez of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer (MDRRMO) of Divilacan, Isabela said parts of the plane were scattered around the area where it crash. Clothes believed to be from the people onboard were seen hanging from trees.

"Una nilang nakita is bangko ng eroplano and then watak-watak daw po yung mga parts kasi pati mga damit po is nakasabit sa mga puno," he said.

One body was seen without a head, he said.

According to Foronda, the remains of the victims are expected to be retrieved within three days.

“As usual weather po ang challenge diyan, at yung terrain,” he said.

In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the bodies of the victims will be brought either to a designated area in Divilacan or Maconacon then to Cauayan town.

"The retrieval operations will be resuming tomorrow," the agency said. 

Foronda said the plane's wreckage will be secured while CAAP conducts its investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

On January 24, Cessna C206 plane RPC 1174 took off from Cauayan Airport in Isabela at 2:15 p.m. heading for Maconacon town. On board the light aircraft were its pilot and five passengers.

The pilot last communicated with air traffic controllers at 2:19 p.m. in Naguilian. The plane was expected to arrive in Maconacon at 2:45 p.m.

Isabela PDRRMO said the weather was clear when the plane left Cauayan Airport, but the wind around Sierra Madre was "turbulent." —KBK/VBL, GMA Integrated News