At 8:05AM, on December 5, 2023, the Philippine Air Force's Sokol helicopter, dedicated for the search and rescue efforts for the missing Piper Plane RPC 1234, has been able to locate the missing aircraft in the vicinity of Brgy Casala, San Mariano, Isabela. While the Sokol could not land nor come close due to the strong winds and growing fog in the mountainous site, the aircrew were able to relay the exact location to ground forces for the continuous search on foot towards the aircraft's exact location.
Tactical Operations Group 2, the PAF unit in charge of air operations in the area, has relayed that apart from the Sokol, a civilian R44 aircraft of Lion Air helped in the search. Current ground search party on the other hand are composed of personnel from the Philippine Army, PNP, BFP, and MDRRO units from Palanan, San Mariano and Divilacan with dumagats as guide.
Meanwhile, the PAF commits the availability of its parajumpers and additional rescue helicopters from the 505th Search and Rescue Group for possible helirescue, once weather permits.
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