The Philippine Air Force said Monday two pilots were missing after their twin-engine propellor plane went down at sea during a night flying mission. The OV-10 Bronco, used largely as a maritime patrol support aircraft, failed to return to an air strip on the western island of Palawan Sunday night, air force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Okol told AFP.
"Combined elements of the coastguard and the navy have found parts of the debris and it appears to be the rear cargo compartment of the vessel," Okol said. "We are still holding out hope that the two pilots were able to eject... we are searching for them." Okol said the pilots had radioed the control tower that they were five nautical miles off the airfield and preparing to land before they crashed.