SEARCH AND RESCUE. Philippine Air Force parajumpers and members of the Bureau of Fire Protection land at the crash site of the general aviation Piper aircraft in San Mariano, Isabela on Thursday (Dec. 7, 2023). The PAF located the wreckage of the aircraft on Dec. 5,a few days after it went missing when it left Cauayan Airport on Nov. 30. (Screengrab from Philippine Air Force video)
MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Thursday deployed a team of parajumpers to the crash site of the general aviation Piper aircraft which went missing last month and was located in Isabela on Dec. 5.
"This morning, 07 December 2023, two PAF search-and-rescue helicopters, a 'Sokol' and Huey aircraft conducted search-and-rescue operations in the vicinity of Barangay Casala, San Mariano, Isabela. Particularly, the 'Sokol' aircraft conducted hoist operations to insert a team of Air Force parajumpers and members of the Bureau of Fire Protection," the PAF said in a statement.
Despite mountainous terrain, tall trees and strong winds, the PAF pilots managed to insert the rescuers a few hundred meters from the crash site.
The ill-fated aircraft went missing after departing from Cauayan Airport around 9:39 a.m. on Nov. 30.
It was supposed to arrive at Palanan Airport at 10:23 am. of the same day.
"Official news about the status of the Piper Plane's pilot and passenger will be given by the Incident Management Team as soon as ground rescuers have reached the site," the PAF added. (PNA)
