All four people who were on board the Cessna plane that crashed over the weekend in the Philippines have been confirmed dead.
Authorities in the Philippines confirmed the incident after recovering the bodies after an extensive search mission atop a restive volcano.
According to CNN affiliate CNN Philippines, the bodies of pilot Rufino James Crisostomo Jr., crew member Joel Martin, and Australian technical consultants Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam have been discovered on Mount Mayon volcano, and a team is working to retrieve them.
According to Richard Tantoco, president and chief operating officer of Energy Development Corp., all four men worked for the Manila-based geothermal firm.
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"Our heartfelt sympathies go to their families and friends during this difficult time," Tantoco said in a statement.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), The small 340 aircraft was headed to the capital Manila when it lost contact with air traffic control on Saturday after leaving Bicol International Airport in Albay province.
On Sunday, the wreckage was discovered at approximately 6,000 feet (1,823 meters). However, rainy conditions, the risk of landslides, and a "moderate" level of volcanic unrest hampered search efforts, according to CAAP.
On Sunday, the wreckage was discovered at approximately 6,000 feet (1,823 meters). However, rainy conditions, the risk of landslides, and a "moderate" level of volcanic unrest hampered search efforts, according to CAAP.police are still conducting an investigation into the plane crash after recording the black boxes.
In other news, five people working for an environmental centre have been confirmed dead after their plane crash while they were on their way to the scene of an explosion. According to the firm and the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane was ferrying the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health employees when it took off from Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock around noon Wednesday. Shortly after takeoff, the twin-engine plane crashed and burst into flames.
