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Air Force chopper used for relief ops crashes in Leyte


(Updated 7:34 p.m.) A Philippine Air Force helicopter being used in relief operations for Typhoon Yolanda survivors crashed in Leyte on Friday afternoon, officials said.
 
The pilot and two employees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on board the aircraft are "safe" and were brought to the Burauen District Hospital, Okol said in a text message.

The Huey (UH1H # 940) helicopter went down between Burauen and La Paz towns at 3:30 p.m. Friday, he added.

Okol said the crash “may be due to environmental, mechanical human factors,” adding that an aircraft accident investigation board has already been convened to determine the cause of the incident.

Capt. Amado Gutierrez, spokesman of the Army's 8th Infantry Division, said the helicopter came from Tacloban City.

 
Leyte was among the provinces worst hit by Yolanda, which ravaged through the Visayas and parts of Southern Luzon last month, leaving 5,768 confirmed dead. — Andreo Calonzo/RSJ/KBK, GMA News
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