MANILA – One individual has reportedly died in a helicopter crash in Guimba, Nueva Ecija on Saturday afternoon, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Sunday.
Eric Apolonio, a spokesperson for CAAP, said the PNP Guimba Police Station verified the incident, indicating that the aircraft went down in the vicinity with only one occupant, a female pilot whose identity has not been disclosed.
“There was only one person on board, the pilot in command, who was a female. Unfortunately, she did not survive,” Apolonio said.
“The body was retrieved promptly, with assistance from local residents. Regrettably, she did not survive,” he added.
As per CAAP, the Robinson helicopter, registered as RP-C 4324, departed from Manila at 10:22 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, heading towards Baguio, where it dropped off a passenger.
The helicopter then took off from Baguio at 11:51 a.m. and landed in Binalonan, Pangasinan at 12:05 p.m. for refueling. However, it did not take off immediately after refueling and was only able to depart at 4:30 p.m.
The Guimba Police Station received a report from a concerned citizen at 5:20 p.m. regarding a helicopter crash in Barangay San Miguel. They promptly responded to the scene and discovered the helicopter with tail number RP-C3424 in a marshy area.
Apolonio indicated that CAAP is currently conducting an investigation into the helicopter crash, with investigators from CAAP’s Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB) present at the site to ascertain the factors that led to the incident./PN
