Private chopper aids search for missing plane in Isabela —CAAP

A private chopper on Monday searched the area of the suspected last location of the Piper plane that went missing in San Mariano, Isabela on November 30, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.

CAAP - Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center (PARCC) said the R44 helicopter took off on Monday afternoon, according to a report of Sam Nielsen on Super Radyo dzBB.

While the effort was an initiative of the private owner of the chopper, the report said the PARCC confirmed that it allowed the helicopter to fly to help with the search.

The Piper PA-32-300 of Fliteline Airways, which was operated by Cyclone Airways, departed Cauayan Airport at 9:39 a.m. and was supposed to arrive at Palanan Airport at 10:23 a.m. on November 30.

“The last communication of the aircraft with Cauayan Tower was around 9:50 a.m. Thursday morning,” CAAP said.

“Its last known position was the last blip from the aircraft as captured by Flight Radar 24 which is about 29.09 NM east of Cauayan Airport at 10:00 a.m.,” it added.

Bad weather and rugged terrain were hampering search efforts for the Piper aircraft, the Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said on Sunday.

Isabela PDRRMO head Constante Foronda said rain, heavy clouds, and the steep terrain in the search area were making it difficult for teams to locate the missing plane and its two occupants. 

“We have aerial search assets on standby but they are unable to fly since the area where they believe the missing aircraft went down is under thick cloud cover,” Foronda said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News