Kin join search for pilots of missing Air Force plane

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Air Force assured family members of the two missing pilots of a light aircraft that crashed nine days ago off Mariveles, Bataan, that it was not giving up the search for the wreckage of the plane.

Family members on Friday were allowed on board a naval rescue vessel still scouring areas near La Monja island for signs of the two pilots and their SF-260 plane.

“We’re still searching and we’re not going to stop until we find the wreckage,” PAF spokesperson Colonel Miguel Okol said Saturday.

No new debris has been found since the few scattered parts recovered shortly after the crash, the PAF said.

“It’s very frustrating for us and of course for the families,” Okol said.

While the PAF has not officially released the names of the pilots while the search is ongoing, other reports have identified them as Maj. Neil Tumaneng and Lt. Michael Arugay.

“The pilots are officially declared missing,” Okol said.

He said the families were kept abreast of everything the PAF was doing to determine what happened to the pilots and their plane.

“We tell them everything. We tell them what we do. We’re taking care of them,” Okol said.

On Friday, two family members were brought to the search site to see for themselves how the search was going on. “We tell them what we’re doing,” Okol said.

PAF and Philippine Navy personnel are searching an area five kilometers northwest of La Monja island, between the tips of Hormos and Cochinas Point in Mariveles.

The PAF said three other sites had been targeted for dive and seabed mapping operations.

The SF-260 aircraft with body number 716 left Sangley Point, Cavite, at 6:52 a.m. on May 18 for a proficiency flight over Corregidor.

Fishermen near La Monja island reported seeing the plane go down at around 7:15 a.m.

Since the crash, the PAF has grounded its seven remaining SF-260 turbo-prop planes which had been converted to light attack aircraft.

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Dona Z. Pazzibugan | Philippine Daily Inquirer | May 26, 2012 | Article Link

More Navy ships deployed for missing pilots

MANILA, Philippines – More ships from the Philippine Navy have been deployed to assist in the ongoing search for 2 pilots who went missing after their trainer plane crashed off the waters of Bataan last Friday, authorities said.

The search area has also been widened as the Navy's Patrol Gunboat 847 and an 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat were sent to cover at least 3 areas, according to Philippine Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol.

Okol said the vessels, which are equipped with side-scan sonar, will be maneuvered by the Naval Special Operations Group.

They will conduct the search at the sea bed, 5 kilometers north northwest of La Monja Island or between the tips of Hormos and Conchinas point in Mariveles town.

“Three sites have been targeted for dive and operations area ongoing,” said Okol. “Today, the use of an undersea remotely-operated vehicle or ROV equipped with cameras and light with strong lumens was contracted to have a better picture of the sea bed and underwater environs of the dive sites.”

Okol added that the Air Force is on standby to assist in the search operation.

The 2 pilots, whose names were not disclosed by authorities, were on a proficiency flight when their aircraft crashed Friday morning. 

Debris of the plane was later found by fishermen in the vicinity of La Monja island.

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ABS-CBNnews.com | May 24, 2012 | Article Link