Light plane burns at airport

A privately-owned six-seater, single engine plane caught fire while reportedly undergoing fuel draining yesterday at the General Aviation Area of the Manila Domestic Airport.

The fire was placed under control only after it consumed half of the plane because of the delay of the airport firetrucks and rescue unit to respond. The firetrucks reportedly arrived 20 minutes late.

Ernesto Lim, brother of Ejercito Lim, who owns Air Bonanza which operated the ill-fated plane, said that had the airport firetrucks and rescue unit arrived earlier, "the plane could have been saved."

The plane with registry number RP-C222 was undergoing check-up and fuel draining prior to renewal of its expired license when it caught fire.

Air Transportation Office investigators found a funnel which was used to siphon the fuel from the gas tank. – Rey Arquiza