Search launched for missing PAF plane, pilots

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 2) – Search and rescue operations were launched after a Philippine Air Force (PAF) OV-10 630 Bronco bomber belonging to the 15th Strike Wing crashed off Palawan on Sunday night.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said that the aircraft had two men on board -- its pilot and co-pilot -- when it crashed and went missing on Sunday night.

Lt. Col. Miguel Okol, PAF spokesperson, said that the aircraft's crew lost contact with their airport in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan at around 7:30 p.m.

"Our search teams have already recovered parts of the plane but there is still no sight of the two pilots," Okol said.

Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman, in a separate radio interview said that only the nose of the aircraft has so far been found by the Philippine Navy's search operation.

Balilo said that the plane's part was recovered one nautical mile from the runway at around 7:20 a.m. Monday.

The Navy has deployed the Western Command's Patrol Gunboat 383 and the Assault Ship 71 for the search and rescue operation.

Balilo said that the PCG has also sent one vessel for the search and rescue.

Okol, who has refused to identify the two crew of the plane, said that the OV-10 630 took off with an OV-10 139 from the Puerto Princesa-based runway of Western Command (Westcom)for a night flying proficiency test that usually lasts for 50 minutes.

The OV-10 139 landed safely within an hour after it took off as the weather conditions were "favorable" that night, he said.

He said that the OV-10 630 lost touch with the airport's radio tower and went missing three to four nautical miles off the airport.

The PAG's OV-10 planes are designed for surveillance and short flights, and also carried heavy ammunition such as rockets and bombs.