Coast Guard sends two ships to look for missing plane off Bataan

February 6, 2019

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) dispatched its Multi Role Response Vessel (MRRV) to conduct search and rescue operation for the pilot of a single engine plane that went missing last Monday.

Capt. Armando Balilo, PCG spokesman, said BRP Tubbataha and BRP Boracay were sent to help in the search and rescue operation.

“MRRV-4401 BRP Tubattaha is at the vicinity waters off 10.16 nautical miles east of Orion, Bataan, continuing the search and rescue operations,” he said.

“Meanwhiile, BRP Boracay   departed (PCG headquarters) Cunanan Wharf, Pier 15, Port Area, Manila to conduct search at the vicinity waters of Samal Island, Bataan,” he added.

Balilo said the deployment was made on Tuesday after the Coast Guard Action Center received a telephone call from Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines about a single-type engine aircraft with tail number RPC-2724-152 reported missing.

He said the “aircraft was reportedly piloted by Instructor Pilot Captain Navern Nagaraja and with student pilot Kuldeep Singh, both Indian nationals.”

Balilo saida report from Flight Line Flying School shows that the aircraft went missing after it failed to return to Plaridel, Bulacan on Monday morning.

He said according to the flying school the aircraft departed from Plaridel on or about 7:20 am of Monday and landed at Subic Airport about 7:51 am. It also shows the aircraft left Subic enroute to Plaridel at around 8:14 am but failed to return to Plaridel within the same day.

Balilo said the flying school dispatched two aircraft to conduct search and rescue operation.

“Notice to Mariner has also been issued to alert all vessels in the area to be on the lookout for the said missing plane and pilots,” he said. Robina Asido/DMS