Rains force DND chief’s helicopter to land in Marikina

An Air Force helicopter carrying Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro made an emergency landing in Marikina shortly before noon yesterday due to poor visibility caused by rains brought about by tropical depression “Helen.”

Commodore Alex Pama, Teodoro’s senior military assistant, said he and Teodoro were on their way back to Manila from Tarlac when the pilots experienced difficulty negotiating the thick fog, forcing the UH-1H helicopter to land at the Valeriano Fugoso Memorial School in Parang, Marikina.

“It was a precautionary landing, but as the pilots tried to avoid towers and high tension wires, you would get nervous somehow,” he said.

But for Teodoro, a reserve Air Force colonel and a certified pilot, it was just a learning experience.

“We were okay. There were some who got nervous but I am used to it. The pilots exercised their discretion and made a precautionary (landing) already and we’re just waiting for the rain to clear,” he said.

The helicopter had four crewmembers and six passengers.

The Vietnam War vintage helicopter is known to be a strong aircraft, and is considered the Air Force’s workhorse.    – James Mananghaya