Search for PAF bomber, pilots continues

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities have yet to find the wreckage of the OV-10 Bronco plane that crashed off Palawan last week, as search teams have only detected rock formations in the area.

The Navy, nevertheless, remains hopeful that the aircraft will be found once they use a privately owned remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for the search operations.

Naval Forces West chief Commodore Joseph Rustom Peña said Navy divers have so far detected only coral formations and have yet to locate the ill-fated plane.

Two Air Force pilots remained missing after the OV-10 Bronco crashed off Palawan on June 23. The missing pilots were identified as Maj. Jonathan Ybanez of Davao City and 1Lt. Abner Trust Nacion of Cavite City.

The plane had conducted a proficiency flight but failed to return to the 570th Composite Tactical Wing base in Puerto Princesa City.

Peña said divers have examined three objects detected by their equipment but these were just rocks or coral formations.

“The search is still ongoing. The plane has not been found,” he said.

He said an ROV borrowed from Shell Philippines would arrive on Tuesday to complement the equipment being used for the search efforts.

Authorities have also used sonar equipment to scan the seabed of Honda Bay, where the bomber plane was believed to have crashed.

A Coast Guard vessel and two Navy ships have also been deployed in the area.

Peña said the weather condition has not hindered the search operations.