3 dead in PAF helicopter crash

ZAMBOANGA CITY  ,Philippines – A combat helicopter of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) crash-landed in a remote village in Sulu yesterday, leaving three soldiers dead and one injured.

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesman Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang said the incident occurred in the village of Panglayahan in Patikul around 8:30 a.m. yesterday.

There was no immediate information on the fatalities but sources said the Huey helicopter was piloted by a certain Capt. Antepuesto and 2Lt. Zulueta with crewman Sgt. Orkina. The identity of the fourth passenger was not known.

Cabangbang said the ill-fated aircraft took off from Camp Bautista in Jolo on a resupply mission to 6th Marine Battallion Landing Team (MBLT) in Camp Baladad in Patikul.

“The UH-1H aircraft with tail number 606 encountered loss of engine power prior to landing and the pilots initiated emergency landing at Camp Baladad,” Cabangbang said.

“The said aircraft hit the ground hard and rolled down the hill,” he added.

Cabangbang said initial information from the accident site revealed the helicopter was totally wrecked.

He said the Joint Task Force Sulu alerted the Marines to secure the crash site to retrieve the bodies of the dead soldiers and bring the wounded to hospital.

The 3rd Air Division command here immediately ordered the grounding of the Huey helicopters while an investigation on the cause of the accident is ongoing.

Air Force chief Gen. Oscar Rabena ordered an investigation of the incident, spokesman Lt. Col. Miguel Okol said.

“Gen. Rabena has dispatched an additional aircraft to secure the area and ferry the investigation team. There were three reported fatalities but the co-pilot survived,” Okol said.

“The pilot and the co-pilot attempted a precautionary landing due to mechanical problem,” he said. – With Rudy Santos, Jaime Laude, AP