Thursday, September 19, 2013

U.S. survey ship finds suspected OV-10 Bronco wreckage in Puerto Princesa

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): U.S. survey ship finds suspected OV-10 Bronco wreckage in Puerto Princesa

The USNS Henson oceanography survey ship has found “suspected images” that resemble those of the OV-10 Bronco 630 that crashed off the shores of this city, but confirmations are still needed to ascertain the findings.

570th Composite Tactical Wing (CTW) commander and Task Force Bronco (TFB) head Brig. Gen. Conrado Parra told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Thursday that a report submitted to them by the sonar survey crew of the USNS Henson showed suspected images of a fuselage and other aircraft fragments within the vicinity of the 12 nautical miles east of Puerto Princesa area they gave before it left on September 12 to its port of origin.

“Yes, they found suspected images of an aircraft but we need to confirm these since they might just be like those we found earlier in our search operations that turned negative,” Parra said.

To make the confirmation, he said they need to use a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) again that can be tethered underwater to document closer images of what were found by the USNS Henson.

Letters have been sent by the TFB to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the joint venture partners operating the Malampaya Natural Gas Project (MNGP) that have the equipment.

He stated the TFB is currently waiting for their replies to make the verification. “We’ve written to the DOST but it has not replied since there was a change in its administration. The operators of Malampaya also have not replied,” Parra said, adding they are waiting to hear until Friday.

The USNS Henson (T-AGS-63) pathfinder class oceanographic survey ship arrived in Puerto Princesa on September 6 to help look for the fuselage and the missing pilots of the OV-10 Broncho 630 that crashed in June this year off the airport runway.

Its arrival was in response to their request to the U.S. government to help locate the fuselage and missing pilots Capt. Jonathan Ybanez and 1st Lt. Abner Trust Nacion.

Until now, he said, the families of the two missing pilots remain hopeful that they will be found.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=567477

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