Coast Guard divers join search for 2 missing PAF pilots

MANILA, Philippines–An undisclosed number of  Coast Guard divers have joined their counterparts from the Philippine Navy in the search for the two missing pilots of the Air Force’s OV-10 plane that crashed on Sunday off Puerto Princesa City.

Commander Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson, on Tuesday relayed the information to the INQUIRER as he reported the “underwater search” for the pilots and their aircraft was ongoing.

In a text message, he also disclosed that two Coast Guard ships – the Search and Rescue Vessel 3503 and another boat (DF 332) – were “conducting surface search along with Navy ships AS 71 and PG 383.”

“An Air Force Nomad plane will transport (to the Palawan capital) a portable sonar that will be used by the Coast Guard team in locating the missing OV-10 plane. A PCG rubber boat will tow the sonar during the search operation,” said Balilo, also chief of the PCG public affairs office.

On Monday, the PCG said “the cargo bay door of the OV-10 was retrieved about one nautical mile east of Puerto Princesa airport.”

“However, no pilots were sighted by Coast Guard and Navy search teams,” it also said.