Pilot, crew of PAF chopper on relief mission killed in crash
Search and rescue teams recovered six bodies believed to be those of the pilot and crew members of an Air Force helicopter which crashed earlier on Tuesday in Loreto town, Agusan del Sur.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) said that the bodies were found shortly past 9 p.m., adding that “the identities of the fatalities are being withheld pending notification of their respective families.”
After the recovery of the bodies of the victims, troops from the 60th Infantry Battalion and the 10th Infantry Division “promptly secured the crash site, ensuring the safety of the area and extending full support to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in the ongoing investigation,” the EastMinCom said.
The Super Huey helicopter was conducting a relief mission in areas affected by Tropical Storm “Tino” (international name: Kalmaegi) when it crashed, according to AFP officials.
Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco earlier said the PAF aircraft was carrying two commissioned officers and three enlisted personnel.
“Ongoing investigation still, sir. We’re waiting for the results from the response team,” Basco told reporters then, adding that the Air Force could not yet release the names of those on board.
The AFP EastMinCom said the helicopter left the Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 11 in Davao City and was en route to TOG 10 in Butuan City to assist in humanitarian and disaster response operations when it crashed.
One of 4 planes
The PAF confirmed in a statement that the helicopter was among four aircraft deployed to Butuan to conduct a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis mission.
Communication with the Super Huey helicopter was lost around 11:56 a.m., shortly before the crash, prompting the military to immediately conduct a search and rescue (SAR) operation.
“The PAF is focusing all efforts on the ongoing SAR operations. We are praying for the safety of the pilots and crew involved in this unfortunate air mishap,” the Air Force said in an earlier statement.
On social media, videos and photos were being circulated showing residents in Barangay Sabud, Loreto town, rushing to a burning pile of debris, with some pieces of luggage located a few meters away.
Investigation under way
Vlogger Delmar Jay-ar Bantuasan II, a resident in the area, showed a video of a burning aircraft.
Authorities said a thorough investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the crash. This marks the second such incident involving an Air Force plane this year.
On March 4, an FA-50 fighter jet went down in Bukidnon, killing two pilots. Investigators later ruled out technical or mechanical failure as the cause, citing instead the “inherent risks of night flying over mountainous terrain” and the complexity of multi-aircraft combat operations, according to then Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo.
Tropical Storm Tino has brought heavy rains and floods to parts of the Visayas and Mindanao over the past days, prompting rescue and relief efforts in affected provinces. —WITH REPORTS FROM CHRIS PANGANIBAN, JOSELLE BADILLA AND QUEENIE CASIO
