Search for 2 missing pilots continues in Palawan, Occidental Mindoro

Missing pilot Capt. Nelson Yapparcon. Photo from the public post of Lyn Garces-Ypparcon

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — A search and rescue operation is ongoing in Palawan and Occidental Mindoro on Monday to look for two missing pilots of a trainer plane that had gone missing since Friday, according to local authorities.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said aircraft Beechcraft Baron 55 trainer with two pilots on board reportedly went missing after taking off from San Jose Airport in Occidental Mindoro.

Lt. Col. Socrates Faltado, information officer of the Mimaropa police, identified the missing pilots as Capt. Jose Nelson Yapparcon, the pilot-in-command; and Saudi Arabian student pilot Abdula Alsharif.

The CAAP said that after taking off, they did not receive any report from the flight after its departure at around 8:13 a.m.

The last known position of the aircraft was at 16 nautical miles south of San Jose.

Lyn Garces, wife of Yapparcon, has made a public appeal on social media to help in the search for her missing husband.

San Jose Airport police together with CAAP tower and four groups have been conducting search and rescue in the area.

The Philippine Air Force sent their Angel 922 Helicopter while the Philippine Navy deployed a 310 Islander Aircraft for the search. A King Air private jet has also joined the search efforts on the air while the Philippine Coast Guard is searching the shoreline. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)