ATO suspends operation of flying school after plane crash

MANILA, Philippines - The Air Transportation Office on Saturday suspended the operation of Flightline Aviation after one of its training planes crashed in Bulacan, killing a flight instructor and a student. GMA's Flash Report said ATO also temporarily closed the Plaridel Airport. The airport will reopen on Sunday, ATO said. The television report also said Arnold Amano, deputy manager of Flightline Aviation, has declined to issue any statement on the crash. Amano reportedly said that their priority is to attend to the needs of the families of the victims Mike Bernardo, the flight instructor, and student Tausik Muhan, an Indian national. The remains of the victims, who were badly burned because of the crash, were taken to the St Matthew's Funeral Homes in Malolos, Bulacan. The flying school sent home their students early to pay their respects to their deceased colleagues. The Cessna plane, with registration number PRC 1123, crashed in Agnaya village in Plaridel, Bulacan around 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The ill-fated aircraft nearly hit a house. - GMANews.TV