Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 20) — The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Monday said the search for the Cessna plane that went missing in Isabela is still ongoing, nearly a month into its disappearance.
Ongoing pa po ‘yun. Since nung dineclare siyang missing nung 24th of January hanggang kahapon po, nakapagpalipad tayo ng helicopter diyan, but unfortunately, wala po dun sa area, ‘di nakita,” CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said in a public briefing on Monday, referring to an area between the towns of Cauayan and Maconacon. [Translation: That’s still ongoing. Since it was declared missing on the 24th of January until yesterday, we were able to fly a helicopter there, but unfortunately, it was not seen in the area.]Apolonio said CAAP had earlier sent a notice to airmen, lifting the flight ban between Cauayan and Maconacon.On Jan. 24, the air traffic controller lost contact with the Cessna 206 plane four minutes after it left Cauayan Airport for Maconacon Airport at 2:15 p.m.The aircraft was carrying six people, including the pilot. One of their phones was last located in a mountainous area in Maconacon, where search and rescue teams were deployed.
Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) also reported a sighting of a “white object” that could be a part of the missing plane. Ground and aerial searches were hindered by thick clouds, weather disturbances, and the area’s slippery terrain.
Responders with K-9 search units are now focusing their search efforts on the Sierra Madre mountain area in Divilacan, according to Isabela PDRRMO officer Constante Foronda.
Another Cessna aircraft was listed missing in the Bicol region over the weekend. The plane, carrying four people, was reported to have crashed near the crater of Mayon Volcano, within the vicinity of Camalig, Albay.
The Camalig public information office said search and rescue teams, including mountaineers, have started climbing to the crash site early on Monday.
READ: Missing Cessna plane in Albay found near Mayon Volcano’s crater – Camalig PIO
