Search continues for missing pilots, aircraft

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

TAGAYTAY CITY — The search for the two pilots and aircraft reported missing since Friday in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, continued on Wednesday, even as a bag that belonged to one of the pilots was recovered in Caluya, Antique province.

Lt. Col. Socrates Faltado, information officer of the Mimaropa police, said teams were still conducting search operations to locate Capt. Jose Nelson Yapparcon, and Saudi Arabian student pilot Abdula Alsharif.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the two pilots on board aircraft Beechcraft Baron 55, left San Jose airport around 8:30 a.m.

On Monday, a bag owned by Yapparcon was found in an islet in Sitio Panagatan 1 in Barangay Harigue in Caluya.

The plane allegedly crashed between the seawaters off Mindoro, Palawan, and Caluya.

Faltado said the bag accidentally attached to the nylon rope of a seaweed plantation about two kilometers from the shoreline and was found by Reden Tria, Carlito Encia and Arthuro Albano.

Inside the bag were a wallet, credit cards, memory cards, a key, a power bank, ID pictures, pilot’s license, a charger, a necklace, and other personal belongings.

The bag was turned over to Yapparcon’s son Jayson, who was at the Semirara Mining and Power Corporation Airport on Monday evening. (Editor: Leti Boniol)