Sister of doctor who died in aircraft fire: ’I can only hope that his fight would not be in vain’

A doctor was among eight people who died after a plane caught fire at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday.

The casualties included one American, one Canadian, and six Filipinos, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said in a news conference a couple of hours after the accident.

Among the Filipinos was Dr. Nicko Bautista, whose sister confirmed the news on Facebook.

"I lost my brother on that flight," Ria Bautista began on Facebook. "No words can describe how devastating it is to lose a family member in such a horrific way. How do you process something like this. How?"

"All I know is that he fought like a hero and I can only hope that his fight would not be in vain…RIP, Nicko. I love you my brother. I will honor you forever," she added.

Dr. Bautista was among seven others on board a West Wind 24 aircraft operated by Lionair Inc. on a medical evacuation mission to Haneda, Japan.

In writing her tribute, Ria reposted one of her brother’s final Facebook posts before the fatal incident at NAIA. It read:

I can’t wait for all of this to be over. For all of the worrying to be done. For all the uncertainties to end. I can’t wait to go back to how it was. To see my friends. To drink with my cousins. To kiss my niece. To hug my dad. And for my sister to be well,” the doctor had written.

I can’t wait to not think about if I’m going to be sick or not. If I’m going to be another number on the census board. I can’t wait for this terrible disease to end. But before that time comes, let me do this for you guys.

A day before the accident, the plane flew to Iloilo for delivery of medical supplies.

Initial reports from the CAAP indicate that the aircraft encountered technical problems while rolling for takeoff on Runway 06.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Monday said the entire fleet of Lionair Inc., has been grounded pending further investigation on the accident involving one of its aircraft over the weekend.

Investigation on the accident is estimated to take any time from six months to a year. — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News