Seven people aboard a Philippine Air Force plane were killed after it crashed in Bukidnon.
As a result, all PAF planes were ordered grounded and would undero inspection, according to PAF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Aristides Galang, who said that the masure is part of FAP’s 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.
One of PAF’s UH-1H helicopters crashed near Bukidnon’s Barangay Bulonay on Sunday 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.
4th Infantry Division spokesperson Major Rodulfo Cordero Jr. said the chopper experienced “engine trouble,” although 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 quite old.
However, the PAF has been following maintenance procedures and conducting inspection before and after flights, he said.
