TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) – – The Cagayan Valley Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CVDRRMC) is now coordinating with various rescue groups to conduct search operations on the reported missing aircraft within the Sierra Madre Mountain in Isabela province.
In the report of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Region 2, the Philippine Air Force – Tactical Operations Group 2 (PAF-TOG2) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines – Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center (CAAP-PARCC) reported that an aircraft PA-32-300 Piper Cherokee Six with tail number RP-C1234 color white and blue was missing this morning, November 30, 2023.
Civil Defense Director Leon DG. Rafael said the missing aircraft took off from Cauayan City Airport at 9:39 in the morning, bound for Palanan, Isabela. However, it failed to arrive at Palanan Airport at 10:23 AM, its expected arrival.
There were two individuals on board who were identified as the pilot, Captain Levy N. Abul II, and a passenger who is a native of Divilacan, Isabela.
The missing Piper plane with tail number RP-C1234. (Photo courtesy of Art Polanco)
“The OCD immediately facilitated an emergency meeting with the concerned agencies to discuss the response actions to the said aviation incident,” Rafael said.
He said PAF-TOG2 presented captured images of the flight radar showing the location where the plane lost sight of the radar. PAF assured to conduct aerial search early tomorrow if the weather will be favorable.
CAAP also reported that the last contact of the Cauayan City Airport tower with the aircraft was at a distance of 15.02 nautical miles East of Cauayan City, Isabela.
“Said information was plotted by the 505th Search and Rescue Group and identified the location within the vicinity of Palanan, Isabela, and near San Mariano, Isabela. As of press time, there is still no information on the location or sightings of the said plane,” he said.
Meanwhile, Isabela Governor Rodolfo T. Albano III said he is also coordinating with the Philippine Army, including the United States Military forces, who are now at the 5th Infantry Division camp, to help in the conduct of aerial search and rescue operations.
The Municipal DRRMC offices of San Mariano, Maconacon, Divilacan, and Palanan towns of Isabela, including the Philippine National Police, the 502nd Brigade, and the Bureau of Protection will also conduct ground search in the areas identified to be the possible site of the missing piper plane. (OTB/PIA Region 2 with reports from OCD 2)
