Missing plane in Isabela found, local exec says

Authorities have already found the Piper plane that went missing in Isabela on November 30, the Isabela Provincial Information Office said on Tuesday.

“It has been found po. Still waiting for details po from the commander,” Isabela PIO administrative officer Joshua Hapinat told GMA News Online.

It was around 8:05 a.m. Tuesday when a Philippine Air Force (PAF) Sokol W-3A search and rescue helicopter located the missing Piper Plane with registration number RPC 1234, in the vicinity of Barangay Casala in San Mariano municipality.

The PAF said the Sokol was unable to land nor come close due to the strong winds and growing fog  in the mountainous site. The aircrew was able to relay the exact location to the 2 ground teams approaching from the east and west.

Tactical Operations Group 2, the PAF unit in charge of air operations in the area, said that apart from the Sokol, a civilian R44 light helicopter of Lion Air is helping in the search. Current ground search party on the other hand are composed of personnel from the Philippine Army, PNP, BFP, and MDRRO units from Palanan, San Mariano and Divilacan with dumagats as guide.

The PAF added it has commited the availability of its parajumpers and additional rescue helicopters from the 505th Search and Rescue Group for possible helirescue, once weather permits.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesperson Eric Apolonio told reporters that their agency is still waiting for the report from its investigators.

“May sightings ng crash site at waiting lang sa official initial report ng CAAP from our Aircraft Accident and Inquiry Board investigators on the ground,” he said.

(There are sightings of the crash site and we are just waiting for the official initial report of CAAP from our Aircraft Accident and Inquiry Board investigators on the ground.)

The aircraft went missing along with its pilot and one passenger on November 30.

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. — RSJ/KBK/RF, GMA Integrated News