Coast Guard vessels search for missing plane

MANILA, Philippines — Two vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) have been dispatched to conduct search and rescue operations for an aircraft and its two Indian pilots that went missing on its way back to Plaridel airport in Bulacan on Monday.  

PCG spokesman Capt. Armand Balilo said they are looking for a single type engine aircraft RPC-2724-152.

The pilot of the plane was identified as Navern Nagaraja. He was with his student Kuldeep Singh. 

The PCG’s  BRP Boracay, a fast patrol boat, proceeded to Samal, Bataan while  the BRP Tubbataha, a 44-meter multi-role response vessel, was dispatched in Orion, Bataan. 

Balilo said they issued a notice to mariners to alert vessels passing in the waters off Bataan, Subic and Bulacan to be on the lookout for the aircraft or its pilots and immediately provide assistance.

 The PCG-National Capital Region-Central Luzon office also directed its stations in Bataan, Manila and Subic to coordinate and dispatch appropriate seacraft to assist in search and rescue operations.

The plane reportedly left Plaridel at 7:20 a.m. on Monday, landed at the Subic airport at 7:51 a.m. and left at about 8:14 a.m. on the same day.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesman Eric Apolonio said   search and rescue operations are focused on the mountains between Pampanga and Zambales. – Rudy Santos