Locals tried to rescue pilot in Nueva Ecija helicopter crash

Residents attempted to rescue the pilot of a helicopter that crashed in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, but were unable to unfasten her seatbelt.

In a “24 Oras Weekend” report by Vonne Aquino, local George Lutao recalled the rescue attempt.

“Sabi ng pulis sisirin na namin para ma rescue yung sakay. Kaya yun, hinahanap hanap namin tapos ako nga yung nakakita sa kanya, nahawakan ko siya. Hinwa namin yung seatbelt, mahigpit, kung naalis yun ay posibilidada siyang nakalabas,” Lutao said.

(The police told us to dive in and rescue the pilot. I was the one who found her and held onto her, but the seatbelt was too tight. If it had been removed, she might have made it out.)

The helicopter, identified as RPC 3424, crashed into a deep pond in the middle of a rice field around 5 p.m. Saturday. The body of the 25-year-old pilot, submerged underwater, was later recovered by rescuers.

The aircraft departed Manila at 10:22 a.m. en route to Baguio, where it dropped off a passenger. It then took off again at 11:51 a.m., landing in Binalonan, Pangasinan at 12:05 p.m. for refueling.

According to Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesperson Eric Apolonio, the helicopter experienced difficulty starting its engine in Binalonan but eventually took off at 4:30 p.m. It failed to reach its home base and crashed in Guimba instead.

Between 7:04 p.m. and 7:14 p.m., the Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center received an emergency locator transmitter alert from the helicopter.

Apolonio explained that the transmitter, located at the rear of the aircraft, activates upon impact.

CAAP stated that a full investigation into the crash could take up to 30 days. Meanwhile, all LionAir Inc. charter service aircraft of the same model will be grounded and inspected while the investigation focuses on the incident.

GMA Integrated News has reached out to LionAir Inc. for comment but has yet to receive a response. The pilot’s family has also declined to make a statement. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/DVM, GMA Integrated News