The search for the missing Cessna 152 training aircraft with two people on board continues in Cagayan province.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) earlier reported that the missing plane has already been found by the search team at the boundary of Barangay Salvacion, Luna, Apayao.
“The search for the missing Cessna RPC-8598 of Echo Air International Aviation Academy, Inc., continues today. Only the possible crash site is the confirmed information according to Apayao Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO),” CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said.
The Cagayan Provincial Information Office (CPIO) in its social media account denied that the craft has been found, saying the aircraft is still missing.
Citing reports from Lt. Col. Oliver Logan, Commanding Officer of the 17th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, the CPIO stated that the team did not see a Cessna 152 at the border of Barangay Salvacion, Luna and San Mariano, Pudtol in the province of Apayao.
“This is based on the reconnaissance mission conducted by the ranks of the Philippine Army and Philippine Airforce today, Wednesday, August 2. This is contrary to the first statement of Apayao Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Jeoffrey Borromeo that there is a sighting of the missing plane in the said area.”
According to Apolonio, air and ground search continues with an N50MN Robinson R66 helicopter departing Tuguegarao Airport at 8:40 a.m. Thursday to reach the possible crash site. He added a search and rescue (SAR) team member and an Echo Air representative was on board.
“Two platoons from the 5th IB of the Philippine Army, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), and Philippine National Police (PNP) are meanwhile leading the ground search,” Apolonio said.
Based on CAAP’s Aviation Records Management Division (ARMD), Echo Air International Aviation Academy, Inc. owns two aircraft. The missing RP-C8598 has an Airworthiness Certification and is geared with a transponder and an emergency locator transmitter (ELT).
CAAP has suspended the operations of the said aviation academy while the search and investigation are still not complete.