PAF to use sonar tracking device to locate 2 missing pilots

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has tapped a Navy vessel to find the missing pilots who were on board the SF-260 trainer aircraft that crashed in Mariveles, Bataan last Friday.

PAF spokesman Lt. Col. Miguel Okol said they have contracted the services of a seabed mapping ship with sonar tracking device to effectively map the waters identified as the possible wreck site.

“The PAF, in coordination with the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), has narrowed the search to a 1 x 1.2-nautical mile search area southwest of La Monja Island near Corregidor,” Okol said in a text message.

Okol said the sonar detects large objects in the possible crash site of the aircraft. The search team is also using a fathometer, which checks the depth of the water.

“To date there has been no confirmation of the actual wreck site and the aircraft save for a few debris found last Friday,” Okol said, adding that the PAF and other rescue teams will continue with the operations until the aircraft has been located.

He said they remain hopeful that the pilots of the ill-fated aircraft survived.

The PCG said it has already alerted its personnel in Central Luzon and they are ready to dispatch another Coast Guard Special Operations Group and a medical team to the area.

The PAF SF-260 TP Warrior number 176 crashed in Mariveles last Friday while conducting a proficiency flight.

The aircraft, which was acquired in 1994, took off from Sangley Point, Cavite at 6:52 a.m. and was reported missing minutes past 7 a.m.

Fishermen found debris believed to be that of the aircraft around La Monja island in Cavite at about 11:45 a.m. on the same day.

Police reports said a fuel tank, a helmet and a plane seat had been recovered from the sea.

An Air Force major and lieutenant were on board the trainer.

Military reports released to the media said the possibility of survival is “very slim.”

The crash prompted the PAF to ground all seven remaining SF-260 trainers in its inventory.

“We are reviewing the records of all SF-260s until we see something conclusive. We don’t want to presume,” Okol said.

The Air Force also urged the public to avoid spreading information that would mislead the families of the missing pilots. He said all official reports would come from the public affairs office of the Air Force.

Okol also branded as “unfair” notions that the PAF’s assets are “flying coffins.”

“That is unfair. We are doing everything we can. We are making sure they are flying machines,” he told radio dzBB.– With Helen Flores, Ric Sapnu