GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
One dead in helicopter crash in Nueva Ecija
One person died in a helicopter crash in Guimba, Nueva Ecija on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
The lone fatality is the pilot, according to Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesperson Eric Apolonio.
"Na-confirm ng PNP Guimba Police Station na doon bumagsak sa kanila ang nasabing aircraft. Isa po ang laman or 'yung pilot in command lang ho. It was a lady pilot. Unfortunately, hindi po nag-survive," Apolonio said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB Sunday.
(PNP Guimba Police Station confirmed that the said aircraft crashed in the area. Only one person was on board, the pilot in command. It was a lady pilot. Unfortunately, she did not survive.)
(The body was retrieved immediately. Our countrymen helped. Unfortunately, she did not survive.)
Apolonio did not identify the victim yet pending notice to kin.
According to CAAP, the Robinson helicopter with registration number RP-C 4324, departed Manila at 10:22 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, en route to Baguio, where it dropped off a passenger.
It then took off from Baguio at 11:51 a.m., and landed in Binalonan, Pangasinan at 12:05 p.m. to refuel.
However the helicopter would not start immediately after refueling. It was finally able to take off at 4:30 p.m.
The Guimba Police Station said it received a report from a concerned citizen at 5:20 p.m. about a helicopter that crashed in Barangay San Miguel.
Police then proceeded to the site and found the helicopter with tail number RP-C3424 in a swampy area.
Responding personnel were able to immediately retrieve the victim's remains and belongings. The victim was 25 years old, according to an identification card found.
Police then coordinated with CAAP.
Investigation
The CAAP said Sunday it is conducting an investigation following the helicopter crash.
Investigators from CAAP’s Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB) are now on-site to determine the circumstances leading to the crash.
The agency said that the Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center (PARCC) detected six emergency locator transmitter alerts between 7:04 p.m. and 7:14 p.m.
"The Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center (PARCC) received multiple emergency alerts," CAAP said in a statement Saturday.
"The Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB) lead investigator (Ret.) Col. Rhomel Ronda was dispatched to the crash site to determine the cause of the incident."
Apolonio said the helicopter did not have a black box. —with a report from Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA Integrated News
