SA’s Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam confirmed dead in Philippines plane crash

Two South Australian engineers have been confirmed dead, as authorities scramble to reach the wreckage in torrential rain and mud flows.

Two South Australian engineers have been confirmed dead in a Philippines plane crash, as authorities scramble to reach the wreckage.

Engineers Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam were identified as two passengers on board the flight, which crashed not long after it look off at 6.43am Saturday morning, according to Filipino media.

On Thursday morning, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong confirmed the pair had been killed in the disaster.

Four Energy Development Corporation (EDC) employees were killed in the wreckage, including Mr Santhanam, Mr Chipperfield, Captain Rufino James Crisostomo Jr and Joel G Martin.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go to their families and friends during this difficult time,” EDC said in a statement.

“It is with the deepest gratitude that we thank the tireless efforts of all the rescuers from branches of government, civilian volunteers, and EDC Emergency Response Teams from across the country.”

Simon Chipperfield.

Karthi Santhanam.

The Philippines government has declared that rescue efforts have now been reclassified as retrieval efforts as authorities attempt to reach the bodies of the four men.

Albay Public Safety Chief Dr Cedric Daep said authorities had received information and photos confirming the four men’s deaths.

Mr Santhanam and Mr Chipperfield’s families had been notified, authorities said.

Images show the wreckage just 350 metres from the crater of the active Mayon Volcano, at the forested boundary between the towns of Guinobatan and Camalig.

Local media Bicol PH reported the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) had confirmed that the wreckage belongs to the missing plane on Tuesday night.

“The damaged parts of the plane were located on the west side of the volcano’s vortex at an elevation of 3,500 to 4,000 feet,” it said.

Search teams faced major problems as the volcano is under an alert level 2 and there were fears torrential rain could cause mudflows from the volcano and flooding.

K-9 dogs were also deployed, but have struggled due to the steep terrain.

The confirmation comes after a pair of Filipino soldiers were gunned down by rebels while assisting in the search for two missing South Australian men.

Private John Paul Adalim and Private Mark June Esico were gunned down by rebels while buying supplies to assist in the search for two SA men feared dead after a plane crash. Picture: Facebook

Private John Paul Adalim and Private Mark June Esico were shopping for supplies – to assist in the search of Adelaide men Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam – at a local market just south of the plane wreckage.

While they were in the market, just after 7am local time on Monday, the men were ambushed by five communist rebels.

The 9th Infantry “Spear” Division of the Philippine Army confirmed the pair had died instantly after being shot several times by three of the men.

“The Communist Terrorist Group took advantage of the busyness of the 31st Infantry Battalion troops in assisting the ongoing search and rescue operation of the crashed Cessna Plane in Albay,” the statement said.

“It is also a display of their cowardice and disrespect for human rights by killing lives including soldiers who are supposed to extend help and save lives of our countrymen.”

The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army rebellion with the Philippines Government started in 1969 and is the world’s longest ongoing communist insurgency.

Mr Chipperfield and Mr Santhanam and were the only two passengers on board the flight which crashed not long after it took off at 6.43am Saturday morning, according to Filipino media.

The small plane crashed just 350m from a volcano crater in central Philippines.

The wreckage of the Cessna was found the next day, according to Inquirer.net, the website of the local newspaper.

Joey Salceda took a picture of the missing Cessna plane in Camalig Albay, approximately 350 meters from the crater of Mayon Volcano.

Mr Chipperfield worked for major SA-headquartered energy company Santos for the best part of 16 years in several senior positions before leaving the company in 2021.

Mr Santhanam worked for Santos across various roles for seven years until late 2020.

The pair are now engineers at Energy Development Corporation (EDC) – the Philippines’ largest renewable energy company which owns the plant between Bacon, Sorsogon City and Manito, Albay – according to their LinkedIn profiles.

Search and rescue teams from Albay look for the missing Cessna plane at barangays Quirangay and Anoling. Picture: PIA Albay/Facebook

Search and rescue teams from Albay look for the missing Cessna plane at barangays Quirangay and Anoling. Picture: PIA Albay/Facebook

EDC released a statement on Sunday confirming that the four people on board the aircraft were connected with the company, Inqurier.net reported.

“Our primary concern is the swift and safe rescue of our four colleagues who were on board the aircraft. We are thankful to (Camalig) Mayor (Irwin) Baldo for mobilising his team to help us do this,” said lawyer Allan Barcena, assistant vice president and head of corporate relations and communications of EDC, in the statement.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said it was aware of reports authorities had lost contact with the light aircraft.

“The Australian Embassy is in contact with local authorities and is providing consular assistance to the families of two Australians reported to be missing,” the spokesperson said.

“Our thoughts are with their friends and loved ones at this difficult time.”