Two Australians feared dead in Philippines plane crash

Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam from South Australia were on board the small plane which crashed near the Mayon Volcano on its way to Manila.

Joey Salceda took a picture of the possible part of the missing Cessna plane in Camalig Albay, approximately 350 meters from the crater of Mayon Volcano. Picture: PIA Albay / Facebook -

Two South Australian men who were on board a small plane are feared dead after their aircraft crashed while en route to Manila.

Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam were among the four flying on the Cessna 340 aircraft along with a pilot and crew member.

The plane went missing after departing Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay for the Philippines’ capital Manila shortly after it took off around 6:45 am Saturday. The crash site is located just 350m from Mayon Volcano.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said the aircraft, with the callsign RP-C2080, was expected to reach Manila just before 8am but the pilot’s communication was cut off by 6:48am.

It is believed the flight departed during moderate rain.

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

The Australian men are engineers at Energy Development Corporation, the largest producer of geothermal energy in the Philippines and had both worked for oil and gas exploration and production company, Santos, in Adelaide.

EDC is yet to verify if it is their company plane that was reported missing.

EDC said it acquired videos and photos on Monday of the plane wreckage.

“There have been, so far, no sightings yet of EDC pilot Captain Rufino James Crisostomo Jr. and crew Joel Martin as well as passengers Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam, both technical consultants of EDC,” an EDC spokeswoman told The Australian.

“The company is in constant communication with their families since they were first informed yesterday,”

EDC said it was working closely with Mayor Baldo who took on the role as incident commander, the team is facing challenges with steep terrain, high altitude and unfavourable weather conditions which has prevented rescue teams from conducting a ground search of the site.

“Our efforts remain focused on the safe rescue of the four passengers and we will not stop until they are found,” said Atty. Allan V. Barcena, Assistant Vice President and head of corporate relations and communications at EDC.

Rescue teams, drones and a helicopter have been deployed, with two further helicopters on standby for reinforcement.

Captain Rufino James Crisostomo Jr and mechanic Joel Martin are also feared dead.

Camalig Mayor Caloy Baldo said the search and rescue effort is still ongoing with cooperation from the Camalig Fire Station and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

After the report from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, 50 risk reduction and management councils were advised to conduct monitoring.

“The local government will immediately post relative updates once official reports are available,” Mr Baldo said in a social media post.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of reports that authorities lost contact with a light aircraft in the Philippines.

“The Australian Embassy is in contact with local authorities and DFAT officials are providing consular assistance to the families of two Australians reported to be missing. Our thoughts are with their families, friends and loved ones at this difficult time,” A DFAT spokesperson told The Australian.

“Owing to privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”