Search for pilots of downed PAF plane shifts to retrieval operations

From InterAksyon (Jun 25): Search for pilots of downed PAF plane shifts to retrieval operations



Divers recover debris from the OV-10 Bronco that crashed off Palawan in this photo courtesy of the Coast Guard

The search for the two pilots of an Air Force plane that went down in waters off Palawan during the weekend has shifted from rescue to retrieval operations, the military said on Tuesday. The PAF also gave the names of the two missing pilots, while expressing hope they are still alive.

First Lieutenant Cheryl Tindog, spokesperson of the Western Command said they have rented a portable sonar device from a civilian that will be mounted on a rubber boat as efforts continue to locate the pilots of the OV-10 Bronco that crashed five nautical miles off Puerto Princesa City as it was making its landing approach Sunday night.

The plane was one of two aircraft that were undertaking a “night proficiency flight.”

PAF identifies 2 missing pilots

Meanwhile, PAF has identified the two missing pilots of the OV10 Bronco (630) that fell Sunday night into the sea five nautical miles off Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

PAF spokesman Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol identified them as Maj. Jonathan A. Ybanez and 1Lt. Abner Trust Nacion.

He said, “The search continues for the OV-10 Bronco that went missing last Sunday. The Philippine Air Force has contracted the use of Sonar equipment from Cebu to aid and complement other equipment used in the search. The efforts have been supported by the Western Command based in Palawan with Philippine Navy and Coast Guard elements conducting the search even at night.” 

Tindog said that, so long as they are not yet found, hope remains they may be alive.

“We are hopeful that the search operation will generate positive results today and we are praying hard that our pilots are safe,” she said.

Thus far, the downed plane’s cargo bay door, nose part, inflatable life raft, fuel tank, a chair and a nose wheel, the latter recovered by a fisherman at Tagburos wharf, have been retrieved and are “in the custody of the Palawan-based Air Force 570th Composite Tactical Wing for technical procedures,” Tindog said.

The Air Force grounded all its OV-10 aircraft after the crash.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/64888/search-for-pilots-of-downed-paf-plane-shifts-to-retrieval-operations