Search on for missing air ambulance in Palawan

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 1) — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has joined the search and rescue efforts for an air ambulance that went missing in Palawan on Wednesday.

The PCG said on Facebook that it deployed its BRP Malabrigo "to respond to an alleged helicopter crash" in the waters between Brooke's Point and Balabac town in Palawan.

The Alouette helicopter operated by Philippine Adventist Medical Aviation Services was transporting a patient from Mangsee island, located in the far southwest portion of Balabac, to Brooke's Point.

The chopper left Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Brooke's Point at 7:30 a.m. to pick up the patient. It was expected to return to the hospital at 10:30 a.m., according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

CAAP said on board the helicopter with registry no. N45VX was the pilot, a nurse, the patient, and two companions.

The PCG said the air ambulance was last contacted at around 12:10 p.m., 35 nautical miles east of Balabac.

This is a developing story.