Recovered debris from the Air Force OV-10 Bronco that crashed off Palawan Sunday night is arranged on the deck of the BRP Mangyan (AS71), which has been heading search and retrieval operations for the downed plane and its two pilots. (photos courtesy of Commander Carlo Lagasca)
The Navy may request the directors of a joint US-Philippine military exercise to send a team and equipment to assist in the search and retrieval of an Air Force plane and its two pilots, who went down off Palawan Sunday night.
The families of the Bronco’s pilots, Major Jonathan A. Ybanez and 1st Lieutenant Abner Trust Nacion, are hoping their bodies would be retrieved.
Earlier, military officials said the two were likely trapped in the fuselage of the plane, which went down in 200 meters of water as it approached to land after a night proficiency flight.
“Actually, we’re exploring all possibilities including that option,” 1st Lieutenant Cheryl Tindog, spokesperson of the military’s Western Command, said in a phone interview, referring to the ongoing Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercises, which are taking place in Subic, Zambales.
The joint exercises have a search and rescue component.
Tindog said Commodore Joseph Rustom Pena, commander of Naval Forces West, has already suggested the possible request for the CARAT team to Westcom commander Lieutenant General Rustico Guerrero.
Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Gregory Gerald Fabic also promised to “suggest” the “great” idea to the Navy brass.
However, Fabic admitted, “I just don’t know if it will be considered considering the hectic schedules of the CARAT exercises. Such request needs planning also. Anyway, we’ve already a six-man team of (Navy) SEALs at the crash site and they are very capable of accomplishing their mission.”
The SEAL team is preparing to dive in the area where the sonar detector of a private firm contracted by the Air Force had located what is believed to be a wreck in the ocean flood and which the military hopes is the downed aircraft’s fuesaleg.
The BRP Mangyan (AS71) skippered by Commander Carlo Lagasca is providing support to the SEALs.
A fisherman who claimed to have seen the crash was also at the site.
Lagasca said they are hoping to retrieve the two pilots and the rest of the aircraft and in case tropical depression “Gorio,” which is on the country’s eastern side, changes course and heads for Palawan, forcing a disruption of their operations.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/65125/navy-eyes-team-from-us-ph-joint-drill-to-aid-in-retrieval-of-downed-paf-plane-pilots
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