Crashed chopper’s black box recovered - report

MANILA, Philippines – Personnel from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Thursday recovered a key tool in determining what could have caused the Bell 412 presidential helicopter to crash last Tuesday, leaving all eight passengers dead. GMA’s Flash Report said the chopper’s black box was recovered near the crash site, a thickly forested mountain along boundaries of Benguet and Ifugao provinces. An aircraft’s black box refers to the device used to record communications between the pilots and the condition of the aircraft before crashing. Earlier in the day, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Hermogenes Esperon Jr. assured that the government would conduct a swift inquiry on the incident. Esperon said the report would be coursed through the PAF. Killed in the crash were Press Undersecretary Jose Capadocia, PMS Undersecretary Marilou Frostrom, Brig. Gen. Carlos Clet, PMS Assistant Director Perlita Bandayanon, pilot Major Rolando Sacatani, co-pilot Captain Alvin Alegata, Clet's aide Quarter Master 3rd Class Demy Reyno, and crewman Sergeant Rohegem Perez. The victims’ remains were flown from Baguio City to Villamor Air Base in Metro Manila on Thursday. The remains were to be taken to the Malacañang Heroes Hall where relatives and officials can pay their respects. The wake at Malacañang will be held overnight. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV