Search on for missing plane in Albay

The CAAP already dispatched officers of the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board to assist in the emergency that is now in the Distress phase. (File Photo: Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – Authorities are searching for a plane that went missing in Albay a few minutes after take off, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Saturday.

Four people – one pilot, one crew, and two passengers – were on board the Cessna 340 plane with registry number RP-C2080 that left the Bicol International Airport at 6:43 a.m.

The Manila-bound flight’s last contact with the air traffic control was at 6:46 a.m. while abeam the Camalig Bypass Road.

The CAAP already dispatched officers of the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board to assist in the emergency that is now in the Distress phase.

The local government of Camalig, the Philippine Air Force, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Office of Civil Defense, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council have been informed about the incident and were coordinating with the CAAP in search and rescue operations.

It may be recalled that a Cessna 206 plane has been reported missing in Isabela since January 24.

Six people were aboard the plane with registry number RPC1174.

The aircraft also lost communication with the air traffic controller a few minutes after it left the Cauayan Airport.

The CAAP earlier said the search would continue until those conducting the operations are not officially declaring the termination of search operations.