TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - A search operation is ongoing to locate the two-seater aircraft with tail number RP-C8598 color white and blue Cessna 152 that was reported missing yesterday afternoon. 

Office of the Civil Defense Region 2 reported that the aircraft, which is operated by Echo Air International Aviation Academy Inc., departed Laoag International Airport at around 12:16 in the afternoon, 01 August 2023, together with other aircraft RP-C9062 going to Tuguegarao City Airport. 

The missing aircraft with two people onboard, the pilot and an Indian national student pilot, is now the subject of a search operation by the air asset from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in the mountains of Northern Luzon, specifically within the northern Cordillera region and Cagayan province. 

"Based on the initial report we received, RP-C9062 arrived at Tuguegarao City Airport at around 1:11 in the afternoon on the same date while RP-C8598, which is supposedly estimated to arrive between 1:30 to 2:00 PM, 01 August 2023, failed to reach its destination," said Civil Defense Regional Director Leon DG. Rafael. 

According to the report of the airport tower, the aircraft's last position was 32 nautical miles Northwest of Alcala, Cagayan.

Based on the map plot of PAF, the possible location of the missing aircraft is between Calanasan, Luna, Flora and Kabugao towns of Apayao province, and Abulug and Pamplona in Cagayan.

"The Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center confirmed the mapping of PAF based on the last location and altitude as per radar," Rafael said.

He also said the 505th Search and Rescue Group computed the radius for possible search areas based on the given flight information.

"PAF suggested that the search will commence from Calanasan, Apayao in consideration of the relayed information," he added.

Given the situation, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines - Tuguegarao has established a Command Center for the conduct of search operations. 

The Cagayan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) will also establish its Provincial Incident Management Team once the location of the incident is identified in Cagayan Province.

The Municipal DRRMOs of Northwestern Cagayan are also conducting massive information gathering in coordination with the barangays particularly those situated near the identified search radius while the Cagayan Police Provincial Office also conducts lateral coordination with Apayao police. (OTB/PIA Region 2)