The search for the missing plane, Piper PA-32-300, of Fliteline Airways continues with leads suggesting it may be in the Sierra Madre mountains.

On November 30, 2023, the plane departed Cauayan Airport at 9:39 a.m. and was supposed to arrive at Palanan Airport at 10:23 a.m. However, the last communication of the aircraft with the Cauayan Tower was around 9:30 a.m.

Cauayan Airport and Tower extended operations on the same day until 6 p.m. and opened early on Friday at 6 a.m. to activate search and rescue operations.

On December 4, 2023, the Escalante family from Barangay Dinampat, Divilacan, Isabela, continued to wait for information about Erma, a passenger on the missing plane.

Jerry, Erma's husband, shared that she traveled from Cauayan City for a medical check-up but decided to halt her journey due to bad weather conditions.

"Nag-usap kami noong gabi, talagang masama ang panahon, malaki ang tubig. Sabi ko sa kanya, huwag ka na muna umuwi kasi masama ang panahon," Jerry said.

The family appealed to the government for a swift and thorough search and rescue operation.

"Sana huwag silang tumigil sa paghahanap hanggat hindi nila nakikita," Jerry pleaded.

The first batch of the search and rescue team is stationed in Sitio Lucban, Barangay Didian, Palanan, Isabela, approximately 13 kilometers away from the presumed location based on Flight Radar data.

Authorities have expressed optimism that the missing plane is in the Sierra Madre mountains, given reports from residents who heard engine noise in the area.

"'Yung weather sa Palanan ay hindi maganda at cloudy. ‘Yung air asset natin doon sa Cauayan ay hindi pa nakaka-penetrate sa Palanan," Joshua Hapinat, spokesperson for the Incident Management Team, said.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) issued a Notice to Airmen, restricting any aircraft from flying within a 10-nautical mile radius and 20,000 feet in altitude around the presumed location until December 9, 2023.