Helicopter with 5 aboard goes missing in Philippines

MANILA -- A helicopter with five people on board has been missing in the Philippines' southwestern province of Palawan since Wednesday morning, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.

The helicopter operating a medical evacuation flight from Mangsee island located in the far southwest portion of Balabac, a municipality in the province of Palawan, was on its way to Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Brooke's Point, when it was reported missing around 9:00 am local time Wednesday, CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said in a text message to Xinhua.

He added that a pilot, a nurse, and a patient with two companions were aboard the helicopter.

The Alouette helicopter, with registry number N45VX, took off at 7:30 a.m. local time to pick up the patient in Balabac town and was expected to arrive at 10:30 a.m. at Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Brooke's Point, Apolonio said.

"A search and rescue operation is ongoing," he added.