MANILA, Philippines - After almost a year of retrieval operations, authorities finally found the remains of the last missing pilot of the OV-10 bomber plane that crashed in Palawan last June 23.
2Lt. Maylene Liw-agan, spokesperson of the 570th Composite Tactical Wing, said the remains of 1Lt. Trust Nacion were recovered by members of Task Force Bronco last Friday near the plane’s crash site.
The task force was led by the 570th Composite Tactical Wing and consisted of representatives from various local government agencies.
Nacion was the co-pilot of the late Maj. Johnathan Ybanez, whose body was recovered on the crash site on Dec. 4, 2013.
His remains were brought to the mortuary of the 570th Composite Tactical Wing in Puerto Princesa before they were airlifted to the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City last Sunday.
Military honors were rendered to the fallen pilot, who used to belong to the 15th Strike Wing based in Cavite City.
The OV-10 Bronco bomber plane crashed off Palawan last year after conducting a proficiency flight. - Venice Amoroso and Anna Bajo