ABS-CBN News Online (Beta)
Air Force C130 plane missing after takeoff from Davao City
A Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 transport plane went missing after taking off from Davao International Airport Monday evening.
PAF chief Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog said the aircraft, with two pilots and seven crewmembers onboard, "most probably crashed that’s why we are concentrating our search within a 20-mile radius."
ABS-CBN davao reported that the two pilots were identified as Major Manny Sambrano and Captain Adrian de Dios.
Cadungog said it took off around 8:50 p.m. and it was expected to arrive at the Iloilo City airport around 10 p.m. The plane was bound for Iloilo City to pick up personnel of the Presidential Security Group and fly them to Metro Manila.
"Unfortunately, their aircraft was not able to land… so we initiated search operations as early as that, around 10 last night. Their aircraft is still missing up to now and we’re conducting search and rescue operations concentrating on the 20-mile radius around Davao City International Airport," he said in an ANC interview.
Fishermen reportedly saw an aircraft plunging into Talikud Island in Samal, Davao. They said it crashed after it was hit by lightning.
The last communication from the pilots was one minute after take off wherein they were given instructions to turn left for Iloilo City, Cadungog added.
He said the plane was expected to communicate two minutes later but when there was none the airport personnel in Davao City immediately informed PAF that the C-130 was missing.
"We’re still verifying really as to what really transpired because this is something very unusual… the aircraft and the pilots were all OK before take off and everything was normal until that time," he said.
Cadungog said several aircrafts are involved in the search and rescue operations. Reports said four helicopters and a Nomad aircraft were deployed in Davao while rescuers were dispatched in Davao Gulf area.
He said PAF has also coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy to search for the missing plane.