Airplane Accidents Philippines

Dense vegetation, steep slopes and strong winds kept rescuers from reaching fragments of a crashed Cebu Pacific Air DC-9 jet spotted on a Philippine mountain. There was no sign of the 104 people aboard. Helicopters were unable to land near the remote site on 7,260-foot Mt. Sumagaya because of the weather and rough incline. On the ground, searchers hampered by darkness and thick forest gave up for the night.

Rescuers today found the wreckage of a passenger plane spread out over a mountain in the southern Philippines, but there were conflicting reports on whether any of the 104 people aboard survived. Cebu Pacific Air officials said at least 15 survivors were spotted near the wreckage, but helicopter pilots flying over the area said they saw no signs of human life.

A Philippine Airlines passenger plane went off the runway after landing in Bacolod, about 300 miles southeast of Manila, smashing into a row of houses and a disco club. Officials said three people were killed and 100 injured. An airport tower supervisor said the Airbus 320 plowed through a low concrete perimeter barrier, crossed a creek and hit the houses and disco club before stopping.