3 American tourists, Pinoy guide survive plane crash

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Three American tourists, who wanted an aerial view of the Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan, and their Filipino tour guide survived when their plane crashed in Sto. Tomas, La Union yesterday afternoon, police said.

Chief Inspector Robert Mesa, Sto. Tomas police chief, identified the three Americans as Edward and Mark, both surnamed Stonis, and pilot Warner Wilty, and their tour guide Ma. Leonora Ramos. 

Mesa, who led the rescue team, told The STAR in a phone interview that the group had just taken off from the Poro Point airport here when their four-seater plane (RP-C976) experienced engine trouble. 

“The pilot decided to bring (the plane) down on a soft area. Luckily they survived,” he said, adding that the small aircraft landed in a muddy ricefield in Barangay Ubagan, Sto. Tomas town.

He said the group suffered minor injuries and were brought to a nearby hospital for treatment.