World · Philippines Bureau
Missing plane with foreign passengers lands safely in Butuan
A small aircraft reported missing in Davao Sur has landed safely in Butuan City, regional authorities confirmed Tuesday. The plane, carrying six foreign nationals, was initially feared to have crashed.
LSN Philippines ·
DAVAO CITY — A private aircraft initially reported as missing in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, touched down safely in Butuan City on Tuesday morning, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 11.
Ednar Dayanghirang, director of OCD-11, said the small plane carrying six foreign passengers landed without incident in Butuan, dispelling early crash reports that had sparked emergency response operations.
The aircraft had been reported missing after failing to arrive at its expected destination, prompting initial concerns about a potential emergency landing or crash in the Davao del Sur area. The OCD activation and search preparations were called off once confirmation of the safe landing was received.
No details about the flight's origin, passenger identities, or reasons for the diversion to Butuan were immediately available. The incident highlights the challenges in air traffic monitoring across the region's remote areas.