Possible C-130 parts detected

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Navy has detected underwater images of objects believed to be parts of the C-130 cargo plane that crashed in Davao Gulf last week, an official said.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, Philippine Navy spokesman, said the utility boat VU 471 captured last Saturday separate images of two cylindrical objects measuring 60 feet, and another one with a cross-like tip 40 feet long within the supposed area where the plane crashed after taking off from the Davao City airport on the night of Aug. 25.

Arevalo said the two objects were seen about 100 meters apart, with the longer one submerged some 240 feet below sea level and the other one buried 180 feet below.

“The search and retrieval team expressed high optimism that these are the C130’s fuselage and tail, respectively,” he said.

The utility boat discovered the objects by using an echo sounder, a device that works like a sonar or fish finder used by fishing vessels.

“The tide and current have been carefully studied by Joint Task Force Hercules for the possibility of deploying divers to verify the sightings,” he said.

Arevalo said the composite team of divers from the Navy and Coast Guard and civilian volunteers resumed operations to confirm the sightings visually.

Philippine Air Force chief of staff Maj. Gen. Jovito Gammad said as of the moment, they have not yet recovered material evidence that could help their investigators determine what caused the C-130 crash.

He said they are still looking for agencies or groups that could provide the equipment for the possible salvaging of the wreckage of the cargo plane, as parts of it would be instrumental in the ongoing investigation.

The other day, the Air Force and the Army honored the pilots, crew, and two passengers of the cargo plane in a ceremony at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, after they were presumed dead when search and rescue teams failed to locate them three days after the crash.

The aircraft was piloted by Maj. Manuel Zambrano and Capt. Adrian de Dios. With them were crewmen Sgt. Petronilo Fernandez, T/Sgt. Lobregas Constantino, and S/Sgts. John Ariola, Gery Denosio, Romeo Gaor and Aldrin Illustrisimo.

Army Cpl. Bernie Sabangan and Army Master Sgt. Remegio Libres were among the passengers of the ill-fated aircraft.

The US Pacific Command has deployed the USS McDonell, an oceanographic vessel equipped with sight scanning radars, to the area where the C-130 was reported to have crashed. – James Mananghaya