Private plane from Cebu to Camiguin: 2 dead, 3 hurt in plane crash

CEBU, Philippines - Two died and three others, including a three-year-old child, were hurt when a private plane from Cebu crashed at Barangay Baylaw, Mambajao, Camiguin yesterday morning.

SPO1 Rico Apal, investigator of the Camiguin Provincial Police Office, told The Freeman that the four-seater Cessna 172 was ferrying passengers from the Mactan Cebu International Airport and was about to land at the Camiguin Airport in Mambajao town when it hit a coconut tree at around 8:15 a.m.

Apal said the casualties were identified as Christian Ceasar Febricos, the Filipino pilot and Norwegian national Racquel Estrande, 37, one of the passengers.

The three injured were identified as Indonesian co-pilot Nurmala Dewi, and Norwegian Lance Strande, 56, and three-year-old child Jensola.

They are being treated at Camiguin General Hospital but late afternoon yesterday they were brought back to Cebu.

Apal said the incident took place while the plane attempted to land.

Based on their initial investigation, the pilot lost control due to strong winds.

The flight manifest showed that the aircraft, RP-C209, listed Dewi as co-pilot and reportedly a student while Cebrecus was pilot-in-command.

Former Cebu City Councilor Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, an aviation enthusiast, questioned the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) as to why they allowed student pilot was sitting at the right seat and why they allowed a four-seater plane to exceed its seating capacity.

Jakosalem said that while accidents happen all the time, there are questions in this accident that need to be answered.

In a separate interview with The Freeman, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Regional Director Agnes Udang said she still has to check on the report as to why the four-seater plane had five passengers.

“Nagpadala na ang among office og investigation report sa Manila,” Udang said.

She added that CAAP Director General Ramon Gutierrez has sent a member of the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB) to investigate the incident.

Udang also said that the crash site is now being preserved for any evidence that flight investigators might need. –/NLQ (FREEMAN)