A single-engine Cessna plane has gone missing after taking off from Cauayan airport in Isabela on Tuesday afternoon, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed.
In a report from RH Sherwin Alfaro, the Cessna 206 aircraft with tail number RPC1174 left the airport at 2:15 PM with 6 onboard including the pilot and 5 passengers.
They were identified as pilot Captain Eleazar Mark Joven and passengers Tommy Manday, Val Kamatoy, Mark Eiron Siguerra, Xam Siguerra, and Josefa Perla España.
The plane was bound for Maconacon, Isabela but did not arrive.
In a spot report, CAAP said they received the report about the missing plane at around 3:17 PM.
READ: Kinumpirma ng CAAP na nawawala ang isang Cessna plane ilang oras matapos mag-takeoff sa Cauayan, Isabela kahapon, Martes, Enero 24. | via RH 06 @EwenAlfaro#SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/bbXATqVdTr
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In an interview with DZRH's Dos Por Dos, Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office - Isabela Atty. Watu Forondo said the weather was clear when the plane left Cauayan Airport, but the wind around Sierra Madre was reportedly "turbulent."
An aerial inspection and search were conducted in Isabela but it could not expand the search throughout the Sierra Madre due to inclement weather.
Forondo added that the pilot last communicated shortly after take-off and no distress call was made prior to its missing.
An incident management team has been created to focus on locating the missing plane, he said.
A full-scale search and rescue operation will be conducted today, Wednesday.
