'Airworthy' Lionair plane delivered med supplies day before crash —CAAP

The medical evacuation aircraft that figured into an accident on Sunday evening even brought medical supplies to Iloilo a day earlier, airport authorities said.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Deputy Director General for Operations Captain Donald Mendoza said the aircraft operated by Lionair was recorded to have been worthy to fly.

"Whether the aircraft is airworthy, it is. The licenses of the pilots are fine, and it's a westwind aircraft, it's a corporate jet performing a major route from Manila to Haneda supposedly," he said in a press conference.

"Actually, kahapon lang, nasa Iloilo siya, naghatid ng mga medical supplies and they went back to Manila safely," he added.

On Sunday evening, however, the same aircraft caught on fire, killing all eight passengers involved.

Initial reports from the CAAP indicate that the aircraft encountered a technical problem while rolling for takeoff on Runway 06, which has since been closed while an investigation ensues. —JST, GMA News