Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) — Authorities in Albay province face twin challenges in efforts to reach the Cessna plane crash site, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said on Wednesday.
“The challenges would be the weather and also the terrain. We were told that the slope is very steep so it’s also dangerous for our people to get there,” Edgardo Diaz, CAAP deputy director general for operations, told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
On Tuesday, the CAAP confirmed through a high-definition camera that the wreckage found near Mayon Volcano’s crater was from the missing small aircraft.
However, there is still no word about the people on board, namely, Capt. Rufino James Crisostomo Jr., crewman Joel Martin, and two Australian passengers, Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santana.
Diaz said the rescuers sent to the crash site would hopefully reach the area within Wednesday to further assess the aircraft and hopefully find survivors. Around 50 people are involved in the operations, he added.
The CAAP has yet to coordinate with families of the passengers, Diaz said.
Based on initial assessment, Diaz said the Cessna possibly went off track after taking off from Bicol International Airport on the way to Manila on Saturday.
