LOCATED. The wreckage of Cessna aircraft 340 RP-C2080 was located in Camalig, Albay at about 4 p.m. on Sunday (Feb. 19, 2023). Search and rescue operations are ongoing for the missing pilot, crew member and two Australian passengers. (From Albay Rep. Joey Salceda Facebook)
LEGAZPI CITY – After more than 32 hours of search and rescue efforts, the wreckage of the Cessna aircraft 340, which was reported missing on Saturday, was located in Camalig, Albay around 3 p.m. on Sunday.
In a statement, Camalig Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo Jr. said the aircraft with tail number RP-C2080 reportedly crashed in the upper part of Barangay Quirangay along the Anoling gulley, which is less than two kilometers from the local government unit's Forest Rangers Incident Command Post
"Pilot Capt. Rufino James T. Crisostomo Jr., crew Joel G. Martin, and two Australian passengers, Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santanan have yet to be found," Baldo said.
"Search and rescue operations are still in effect unless bodies are found, then will be declared as search and retrieval operations," he added.
The mayor said with the augmentation support from national agencies, the search and rescue team is closely coordinating with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, considering the risks posed by Mayon Volcano’s current Alert Level 2 status.
The Camalig local government would formulate protocols intended for search and rescue/retrieval operations, along with the prioritization of responders' safety, Baldo said.
The six-seater aircraft flew out of Bicol International Airport at 6:43 a.m on Saturday and was supposed to land in Manila by 7:53 a.m.
Australian citizens Chipperfield and Santanan are technical consultants of the Energy Development Corporation. (PNA)
