Search underway for South Australians after light plane goes missing near volcano in Philippines

By admin On Feb 20, 2023

Wet weather is hampering the search for mining engineers Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam, identified as passengers onboard a Cessna RPC340.

The plane went missing minutes after it departed Bicol International Airport in Albay at 6.43am local time on Saturday.

Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam have been identified as passengers onboard the missing Cessna RPC340. — Karthi Santhanam and Simon Chipperfield have been identified as passengers onboard the missing Cessna RPC340. (Supplied)

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The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said air traffic controllers last contacted the plane at 6:46 am, when the plane was in the vicinity of Camalig at an altitude of 2600 feet (just over 790 metres).

The aircraft was expected to arrive in Manila at 7.53am.

Four people were onboard, including the pilot and crew.

Pictures have surfaced of plane wreckage near the Mayon Volcano, which is close to the airport, but the aircraft is still officially listed as missing.

The small plane went missing shortly after takeoff on Saturday. (BFP R5 Camalig)

Senior Superintendent Achilles Santiago of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Albay reportedly said the wreckage of Cessna RPC340 was seen at the forested boundary between the towns of Guinobatan and Camalig.

Search and rescue crews from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), Camalig Fire Station (FS), and other teams have been deployed to the area.

The search has been slow going due to wet weather.

A search and rescue mission is underway after a Cessna RPC340 went missing in the Philippines. (BFP R5 Camalig)

Camalig fire station chief senior inspector Hamor Laguilles told local media the plane was “flying too low, (emitting) smoke and making a loud crumbling sound before it disappeared.”

It’s understood Chipperfield and Santhanam were travelling to Manilla after conducting a site visit at Bac-Man Geothermal Power Plant.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed Australian officials were providing support to the families of the men reported to be missing.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of reports that authorities lost contact with a light aircraft in the Philippines on Saturday 18 February 2023,” a spokesperson told 9News.

“The Australian Embassy is in contact with local authorities and DFAT officials are providing consular assistance to the families of two Australians reported to be missing.

“Our thoughts are with their families, friends and loved ones at this difficult time.”