Still no sign of missing Cessna plane

MANILA, Philippines — Rescue teams continue their search for a missing Cessna plane and its passengers in Isabela, according to a report received by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) yesterday.

The Sokol helicopter sent by the Philippine Air Force ”yielded negative sighting” of the aircraft, a report by Braulio Meneses, facility-in-charge of  CAAP’s Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center (PARCC), as of 6 p.m. on Friday showed.

The Philippine Coast Guard, on the other hand, launched a maritime search within Divilacan Bay using small surface vessels with frogmen on board.

PARCC is coordinating with the rescue teams to locate the missing aircraft, CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said.

He said operating hours of the Cauayan airport have been extended while opening time was made early in support of the search and rescue mission.

CAAP is re-evaluating reports obtained from rescue units on the probable search areas.

The Cessna plane has been reported missing since Tuesday after it departed at Cauayan airport. It was supposed to land at Maconacon airport, also in Isabela.