Britons die in Philippine air crash

The rescue effort has turned into one of recovery

A British couple were among the victims of Sunday night's plane crash in the Philippines and their son is missing, feared dead.

At least 14 people are reported to have lost their lives when the twin-engined plane plunged into Manila Bay.

The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed three Britons were among the 34 people on board the flight.

The consulate in Manila is in touch with next of kin at the moment

Foreign Office

Divers are searching for Minh Van Nguyen, an expert in renewable energy who had been working for the Voluntary Service Overseas in the Philippines.

The bodies of his mother and father were earlier recovered by rescue workers after the 44-seat Fokker 27 plunged into the sea.

An FO spokeswoman said: "Two of the bodies have been recovered but one is still missing.

"The consulate in Manila is in touch with next of kin at the moment."

The plane took off at 0606am (2206 GMT) from Manila's domestic airport and lost contact with the control tower three minutes later.

It was on a regularly scheduled flight to Laoag, about an hour away from Manila, when it crashed.

Engine trouble

The crew had reported engine trouble.

Laoag Air, owner of the aircraft, said 14 people on board were killed, but at least 16 were rescued by passing boats.

Coastguard divers are now searching the 20 metre-deep waters of Manila Bay.

Small pieces of debris, including at least one seat, were found strewn across the sea's surface.

Witnesses said the plane sounded like it was having engine trouble as it tried to gain altitude before plunging into the bay.

One survivor, 25-year-old Steve Thompson of Australia, said he saw smoke coming from the left side of the plane just before the pilot came on the intercom to tell passengers to brace for impact.

Asked if the passengers panicked, Mr Thompson said: "The cabin instantly filled with water, so no one made any noise."

Local fishing boats were the first vessels on the scene, and many of the survivors were rescued by fishermen.

Coastguard boats then arrived to join the rescue effort.

The survivors included the pilot, co-pilot and a Roman Catholic Bishop.

Three people were in intensive care, while others walked away with minor cuts and bruises.