Video Shows Plane Wreckage Discovered Near Mayon Volcano's Crater

A wreckage of the Cessna plane that had gone missing minutes after takeoff on February 18 Saturday was found on Sunday, February 19 after an aerial search operation was conducted. 

Albay’s 2nd District Representative Joey Sarte Salceda was among the first to upload footage on social media of the search operation aboard what he described as an “Ayala Corp chopper.” The footage was taken by Perry Saculsan.

In the footage, scattered pieces of debris can be seen on the volcano’s slope. According to Salceda, the wreckage was found near Mayon Volcano’s crater or 350 meters below its summit. 

The Cessna RPC340 which was carrying four people was located along the gully of Mayon Volcano. According to an Inquirer report, Energy Development Corp. (EDC), the country’s largest producer of geothermal energy, released a statement on Sunday confirming that the four persons on board the aircraft were connected with the company.  EDC is the Lopez Group’s global and diversified renewable energy company.

Ground search and rescue teams were initially deployed but were ordered to pull out. Aerial search operations were done to map out and plan the safest way to conduct search and rescue operations. 

Currently, Mayon Volcano is under Alert Level 2, which means there is currently active shallow magmatic activity under the volcano, and unpredictable episodes of steam-driven and magmatic eruptions could occur at any time. Civilians are not allowed to go near the volcano for leisurely activities. Only disaster operations are permitted in the danger zone.