Plane Went Into The Ocean Off Coast Of Masbate City, Two Pilots Also Missing

Philippine Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and two pilots are missing after the Piper Seneca they were aboard went down in the ocean off the coast of Masbate City in the central Philippines Saturday.

Robredo was flying to his hometown of Naga City where his 13 year old daughter had received a swimming award. The Seneca was being flown by a Filipino pilot and a student co-pilot from Nepal when one of the engines failed, according to a report appearing on Fox News. The pilot reportedly attempted a landing at an airport in Masbate province, but overshot the runway by about 550 yards.

Rescue ships and divers were dispatched to the area almost immediately, and a portion of the right wing of the airplane was recovered from the ocean floor. Searchers also found a copy of the flight plan, but no sign of those missing from the flight.

A fourth person on board the plane was picked up by a fishing boat after he reportedly swam out of the cabin as it filled with water. He told rescuers that he had briefly lost consciousness when the airplane impacted the water, and when he came to, he looked for the secretary in the cabin of the Seneca but was unable to locate him in the chest-deep water.

Friends, family, and government officials up to President Benigno Aquino were still hopeful Monday that Robredo and the two pilots would be located alive, according to a report appearing on gulfnews.com.

(Artist's rendering of Piper Sceneca)

FMI: www.gov.ph