The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced on Friday, November 30, that an aircraft, along with its pilot and one passenger, had been reported missing in Isabela.
According to CAAP, Cyclone Airways' Piper PA-32-300, operated by Fliteline Airways, has not been seen since Thursday.
At 9:39 a.m., the aircraft departed Cauayan Airport and was supposed to arrive at Palanan Airport at 10:23 a.m. on November 30, 2023.
"The last communication of the aircraft with Cauayan Tower was around 9:50 a.m. Thursday morning," CAAP said in a statement.
"Its last known position was the last blip from the aircraft as captured by Flight Radar 24, which is about 29.09 NM east of Cauayan Airport at 10:00 a.m.," it added.
At around 11:08 a.m. on Thursday, the CAAP Operations Center received a distress message from the Cauayan Tower.
However, the Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center (PARCC) has not received any distress alerts from the missing aircraft via the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT).
According to CAAP, both military and civilian organizations are conducting communication searches in case the missing aircraft is spotted.
Aircraft Accident and Inquiry Investigation Board (AAIIB) CAAP inspectors visited Cauayan Airport to investigate while search and rescue teams were preparing to locate the missing aircraft, registered RP-C1234.
CAAP said Cauayan Airport and Tower extended operations on Thursday until 6 p.m. and opened early on Friday at 6 a.m. to activate search and rescue operations.
In an update, CAAP stated that local governments, the police, the Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the disaster risk reduction and management office are collaborating to find the aircraft.
