Missing PAF plane reportedly found; AFP won’t confirm

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan—Searchers have finally located the wreckage of a Philippine Air Force OV-10 plane in the waters close to the approach to the runway of the Puerto Princesa Airport, a source privy to the ongoing search effort told the Inquirer Friday.

Initial dives indicated that the plane was stuck in the sandy seabed with the body of one of the two pilots inside the cockpit, according to the source, who asked not to be named for lack of authority to speak about the ongoing operation.

The Inquirer tried to get confirmation from officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command here but they did not answer calls.

The source said actual retrieval still has to begin and they were still about to lower an underwater camera borrowed from the Department of Science and Technology.

The area was just off BM Beach, a public beach, on the eastern side of the city, the source added.

The aircraft, which belongs to the PAF 15th Strike Wing, went down in Puerto Princesa Bay between 7 p.m. and  8 p.m. last Sunday, June 23, as it was returning from a night training flight.

Its two pilots, Maj. Jonathan Ybañez and Lt. Abner Trust Nacion, remained missing.