Search ops for missing Cessna in Isabela resume, more tracker dogs to be added

Search operations for the missing Cessna aircraft in Isabela  resumed on Thursday due to improved weather, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

“After three days of suspension of search activities due to bad weather, operations resume today,” PDRRMO head Constante Foronda Jr. said.

To beef up the operations, more tracker dogs will be deployed to join the efforts to locate the ill-fated aircraft, Foronda added.

“As soon as flight conditions become favorable, additional 4 tracker dogs and 8 handlers will be flown to Maconacon to join in the efforts,” he said.

The search operations will now have a total of 13 tracker dogs once the latest batch arrives at Divilacan town, the Incident Management Team said.

A total of 452 ground search personnel are designated for the operations, it added.

On January 24, Cessna C206 plane RPC 1174 took off from Cauayan Airport in Isabela at 2:15 p.m. heading for Maconacon town.

On board the light aircraft were its pilot and five passengers.

The pilot last communicated with air traffic controllers at around 2:19 p.m. in Naguilian.

The plane was expected to arrive at Maconacon at 2:45 p.m.

Isabela PDRRMO said that the weather was clear when the plane left Cauayan Airport, but the wind around Sierra Madre was "turbulent." —KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News