Pilot and his student have been missing since May 17

Capt. Jose Nelson Yapparcon and his student, Abdullah Al Sharif, have been missing since May 17. (Photo from the Facebook account of Lyn Garces-Rapparcon)

MANILA, Philippines — A flight instructor and his student aboard an aircraft have been missing since May 17, 2019, according to the instructor’s wife.

Capt. Jose Nelson Yapparcon and his student, Abdullah Al Sharif from Saudi Arabia, was aboard a Beechcraft Baron 55 plane when they went missing at 8:45 a.m.

“He is an instructor pilot at Orient Aviation school. Until now there are no signs of any parts of the plane and also the pilot,” Lyn Garces Yapparcon, the pilot’s wife, told INQUIRER.net on Saturday.

In a Facebook post, Lyn said her husband and the student were flying over San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2368957476458030&set=pcb.2368957583124686&type=3&theater

A search-and-rescue operation was launched last Friday by the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and the staff of Orient Flying School since Friday.

Lyn appealed to the public to pray for the rescue of her husband and the student.

“Please include him and my family in your prayers that he may successfully be rescued, especially for our two kids and for the whole search and rescue team as well,” she said.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)