Rescue forces have announced that the missing Cesna 172 has been located in a mountainous area west of the Valdesia Dam, in the Peravia province. The missing single-engine plane was sighted by an Air Force helicopter at 6 pm on Thursday in Loma El Cao, between the Valdesia and Jiguey-Aguacate dams, west of the Nizao river. Hoy newspaper reports that the airplane crashed vertically into the Loma El Cao. The airplane was piloted by Jorge Sanchez. On board were Francisco Mendez, an Orange telecom engineer and Marcos Arias and Eduardo Solis. The brigade reported that the airplane was totaled. A rescue team member was left on the site.
Rescue brigades were sent out at daybreak on Friday because the dense forest had prevented rescue efforts from continuing into the night on Thursday. The rescuers have hopes that the four pilots on board could still be alive.
The airplane left from La Isabela Airport at 11:23am on Tuesday en route to Barahona airport. It disappeared from the terminal’s radar after 13 minutes of flight. Weather and visibility conditions were very poor over the DR that day.