Bodies of 2 Navy pilots found

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – The bodies of two Navy pilots, who went missing after their helicopter crashed near an island off this city last Tuesday, were recovered yesterday.

Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, chief of Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said the bodies of pilot Lt. Junior Grade Tristan Joseph Corpuz and his co-pilot, Lt. Gerald Tamayo, were found off Sta. Cruz Island, some 1.9 nautical miles off this port city. 

“They were still in their flying suits and one of (them) bore signs of contusions on the head,” Pama said. 

The two pilots, a crewman and two passengers were on board a Bolkov PNH411 helicopter maneuvering to cover an amphibious landing exercise last Tuesday when the aircraft crashed.

The three passengers survived after they managed to extricate themselves from the wreckage and were rescued by the participants in the exercise. – With Jaime Laude