Dramatic underwater footage of retrieval ops for Robredo plane

Dramatic underwater footage of retrieval operations for the plane that crashed in Masbate Bay on Saturday, killing DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and two pilots, was made available on Wednesday.

The video shows at least three divers hovering around the fuselage of the plane, which was resting on the seabed upside down. They appear to be inspecting the plane. Later they secure harnesses to the fuselage, preparing it for lifting to the surface.

The body of Robredo was recovered on Tuesday, ahead of the retrieval operations for the plane.

As of Wednesday evening, the body of the plane's pilot, Jessup Bahinting, had also been recovered. Bahinting's Nepalese co-pilot, Kshitiz Chand, 22, was not in the fuselage.

As of posting, the fuselage had already been lifted nearer to the surface. It will eventually be turned over to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for inspection and investigation.

source: interaksyon.com

Search for Robredo goes wider, deeper

Authorities have expanded search for Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and his two companions to nearby coastal areas in Bicol, Office of Civil Defense chief Benito Ramos said Monday.

Ramos said the Army's 9th Infantry Division is overseeing search in the areas of Burias Island in Masbate and nearby coastal towns of Matnog, Bulan, and Donsol in Sorgsogon and Pasacao in Camarines.

Ramos said it was possible that Robredo and the two pilots were swept by the strong current.

Divers are also scouring the waters of Masbate Bay for any sign of the missing plane.

Deeper search

American and Philippine deep-sea divers were scheduled to dive deeper, covering an area as wide as 16-square-kms, in the continuing search.

Deep-sea divers are set cover an area of 4-kilometers by 4-kilometers, employing nitrox (nitrogen oxygen) diving equipment, President Benigno Aquino III's official Twitter account said Monday.

The first dive was scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Nitrox diving maximizes bottom time and surface intervals in the search for any signs of the ill-fated Piper Seneca plane that carried the DILG Secretary. It will allow the divers to stay out longer and to dive deeper.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II said that as of 8:30 a.m., tanks and mixing equipment from Manila had arrived in Masbate City. Helium and pure oxygen also arrived in Masbate City from Cebu. "They'll mix, load tanks, then send off first deep dive team in about two hours." Roxas tweeted.

source: interaksyon.com