PAF aircraft grounded after chopper crash in Bukidnon, spokesperson says

All aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) were grounded and would undergo inspection after a chopper crashed in Bukidnon, where seven people aboard were killed, a PAF official said on Sunday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV on Sunday, PAF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Aristides Galang said the measure is standard operating procedure after incidents involving their aircrafts.

“After ng insidente na 'to, as an SOP, automatic po 'yan, iga-ground po muna natin ‘yung mga aircraft. Hold muna po sa paglipad,” he said.

On Saturday, one of PAF’s UH-1H helicopters crashed near Bukidnon's Barangay Bulonay after the aircrew attempted to crash-land the aircraft.

The crew along with their three passengers—a soldier and two Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) militiamen—were killed.

PAF said the helicopter, along with another UH-1H, was on a resupply mission for the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Battalion when it crashed.

According to 4th Infantry Division spokesperson Major Rodulfo Cordero Jr., the chopper experienced "engine trouble."

However, Galang said the cause of the incident is still not clear.

“Sa ngayon po, hindi pa po natin masasabi kung ano po talaga 'yung cause of incident” he said.

"Hindi po malinaw po kasi kung ano ang report na binibigay sa atin kaya po tayo magpapadala ng mag-iimbestiga para malaman po natin kung ano po ang cause ng insidente,” he added.

Galang said the helicopter that was involved in the crash is not new.

However, the PAF has been following maintenance procedures and conducting inspection before and after flights, he said.

"Well-maintained po ito,” Galang added. —KG, GMA News