Four injured as Air Force chopper crashes in Palawan

Sokol chopper crashed in Puerto Princesa on Tuesday due to a mechanical problem. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Four passengers were injured after an Air Force chopper, carrying 12 persons including Philippine National Police officials, crashed in a ricefield in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, on Tuesday afternoon due to a mechanical problem.

The passengers were PNP Directorate for Operations head Chief Supt. Camilo Cascolan, Region 4B director Chief Supt Wilben Mayor, Deputy DO Chief Supt. Nestor Bergonia, and Chief Supt. Amador Corpus from the Directorial Staff.

In a phone interview with reporters, Mayor said they conducted an inspection for the expected visit of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno in the area for the scheduled ASEAN Chief of Justices Conference to be held on November 10.

He said those who were not injured are now back at their hotel.

Initial information from Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Cherryl Tindog said Air Force Sokol 926 left for a reconnaissance or probing flight at around 2:00 p.m.

“It experienced a mechanical problem and crash landed at vicinity of Sitio Sabang, Bgy Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa City. The passengers are reportedly safe with minor injuries,” she said.

"Apat po yung dinala natin sa hospital para tingnan," she said.

The crash happened around 2:42 to 2:45 p.m. Tindog said WesCom already sent an air ambulance and another aircraft to the incident area.

She said they cannot determine yet the extent of the damage of the chopper.

A press statement from Philippine Air Force said the helicopter experienced one engine inoperative malfunction that prompted the pilot, 1Lt Gino Glenn Solano, to perform emergency landing.

Solano said they landed on a rice field since it was the nearest and safest area, as it was far from a populated area.

However, the ricefield’s uneven surface led the aircraft to tilt to the right as it touched down, damaging its main rotor blades.??

Aside from Solano, also on board were Major Michael R Yraolo (Co-pilot), Sgt Dunhill R Guanzon (Crew), and A1C Mark Phol T Masangkay (Helicopter Mechanic).

"Such incident will immediately undergo investigation per standard operating procedure. The PAF will have no further comments until such investigation is concluded," the PAF statement read.

The six other Sokol helicopter of PAF were grounded while investigation is ongoing. — VVP/KBK, GMA News