MANILA, Philippines — Isang Piper PA-32-300 type na aircraft ang naiulat na nawawala simula pa Huwebes matapos lumipad ng Cauayan Airport bandang 9:39 a.m. — pero hindi na ito nakalapag sa dapat nitong paroonan.
"The aircraft was supposed to arrive at Palanan Airport at around 10:23 AM," ayon sa ulat ng Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) ngayong Biyernes.
"On board were the pilot and lone passenger. The last communication of the aircraft with Cauayan Tower was around 9:50 AM Thursday morning."
Sinasabing pagmamay-ari ng Fliteline Airways at pinatatakbo ng Cyclone Airways ang nawawalang eroplano.
Huli itong naobserbahan bandang 29.09 NM silangan ng Cauayan Airport bandang 10 a.m. sa pamamagitan ng flight Radar 24.
"Search and Rescue units are now being organized. Cauayan Airport and Tower extended operations yesterday until 6:00 PM and opened early at 6:00 AM to activate search and rescue operations," dagdag pa ng CAAP.
"Military and civilian groups are conducting communication searches for any possible sighting of RP-C1234."
Walang natanggap na Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) distress alert ang Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center mula sa missing aircraft.
Gayunpaman, nakatanggap daw ng distress message (code word DETRESFA*) ang CAAP Operations Center mula sa Cauayan Tower bandang 11:08 a.m. kahapon.
Kasalukuyan naman na raw nagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon ang CAPP officials mula sa Aircrat Accident Inquirt Investigation Board (AAIIB) at nasa Cauayan Airport na para magsiyasat.