Two Adelaide men killed in Philippines plane crash

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says rescue crews have reached the crash site on an active volcano and confirmed there are no survivors.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The two South Australian men involved in a small plane crash while en route to Manila have been confirmed dead.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said rescue crews reached the crash site on an active volcano in Albay and confirmed there were no survivors.

Two Adelaide men have been named as victims in the plane crash: Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam.

“On behalf of the Australian government, I’d like to extend my deepest sympathy to the families of the two men, Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam, both from Adelaide, my home town, as well as the Filipino nationals involved,” Senator Wong said in a press conference today.

Two soldiers involved in the rescue search are also dead after they were shot, with local authorities suspecting it was a terrorist attack.

Chipperfield and Santhanam’s employer, Energy Development Corporation, said they are mourning the lives lost.

“We mourn the confirmed passing of our dear colleagues, Captain Rufino James Crisostomo Jr., Joel G Martin, Simon Chipperfield, and Karthi Santhanam, who were on board the Aircraft RP-C-2080 that was reported missing early Saturday morning shortly after taking off from the Bicol International Airport,” President and chief operating officer of EDC Richard B. Tantoco said.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go to their families and friends during this difficult time.”