Photo courtesy of Jeson Gavilan
MANILA — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday continued investigating the crash of its Super Huey helicopter in Agusan del Sur, which claimed the lives of six airmen.
The aircraft went down in Loreto town on Tuesday while conducting a rapid damage assessment and needs analysis (RDANA) mission in support of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) following the onslaught of typhoon Tino.
Troops recovered six bodies believed to be the pilots and crew of the aircraft.
PAF spokesperson Colonel Ma. Christina Basco noted that the Super Huey had taken off from Davao City along with three other aircraft—two Black Hawks and one Bell helicopter.
The helicopters were bound for Butuan City when communication was lost with the Super Huey. The other aircraft traced its location and later confirmed the crash site in Agusan del Sur.
“Ni-locate po siya nung iba, kasi magkakasunod po sila. So, nang nawalan na ng communication, yung ibang aircraft na nakasunod, inikutan na rin nila yung area. Natunton po nila yung location. Unfortunately, hindi nga lang po maka-land because hindi lang po patag yung terrain,” Basco said in a press briefing at the Villamor Air Base.
“What is confirmed is wala naman po tayong naapektuhan or natamaan na ibang facilities or ibang casualties po,” she added.
Basco said the investigation was looking into all possible factors behind the crash, including weather conditions, technical or mechanical issues, and human error.
“We cannot pinpoint exactly as of now kung ano [ang cause] hangga’t hindi pa natatapos yung investigation… Yun pong weather and also, maybe, it could also be the technical or mechanical aspect. So, yun po ang masusing pinag-aaralan ng ating mga aircraft investigators so that we would know the cause of the mishap,” she explained.
The official clarified that the flight had been cleared for takeoff after weather conditions and wind limitations were assessed as favorable.
“Yung aircraft po natin, nag-take off po siya, meron po tayong inobserve na wind limitations or wind conditions. So, kapag hindi po favorable yung wind conditions natin, we do not takeoff because the safety of our aircrew is paramount. So, nung time na yun, naka-takeoff po sila and they were able to conduct that mission nga po sana. Unfortunately, nangyari nga po yung mishap,” Basco said.
PAF investigators and personnel from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) were still at the crash site to recover debris and the helicopter’s flight data recorder.
“Rest assured that the conduct of the investigation is immediate and it's a priority na matapos po kaagad,” Basco said.
“Isa po sa kasamang hahanapin din ay yung black box. Nandun pa rin po [ang investigators] sa crash site, ini-investigate po nila. We want to ascertain the identities kasi nga po hindi na po recognizable. Meron tayong team from the medical group and personnel from the Air Force para malaman po yung kanilang records and ma-identify po sila,” she continued.
REFURBISHED, RELIABLE AIRCRAFT
Basco said the Super Huey was a refurbished aircraft acquired from the United States in 2011. It had been reconfigured to meet operational standards and airworthiness requirements.
“It's a very reliable aircraft at ito nga po yung ginagamit ng ating 505th Search and Rescue Group, lalo na nga po na sila yung in-charge sa humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. So, okay naman po itong aircraft,” the PAF spokesperson noted.
“This is refurbished—inimprove. There are improvements in its equipment and in its structure. Kumbaga, mas upgraded version siya,” she said.
“We conduct periodic maintenance inspections and we ensure na ang mga aircraft po natin before it takes off, it is fully mission-capable. Pag may nakita po tayong any discrepancy, hindi po natin yan pinapa-takeoff,” she added.
Pending the results of the investigation, the two remaining Super Huey helicopters of the PAF have been grounded.
Basco said that other PAF air assets—including Black Hawks, Bells, C-130s and C-295s—would continue to support ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) missions in areas affected by Typhoon Tino.
THE FALLEN AIRMEN
The six airmen aboard the Super Huey aircraft included two pilots and four crew members.
Basco identified one of the pilots as a captain, who served as the pilot-in-command. The other one was a second lieutenant. Both were well-seasoned and well-trained aviators, according to the official.
The crew members were composed of a crew chief, two helicopter mechanics, and a jump master.
They were all from the PAF’s 505th Search and Rescue Group.
One of the airmen was from Zamboanga, another was from General Santos City, and four were from provinces in Luzon.
Basco said the PAF was working to transport the remains of the airmen to their respective hometowns.
“We found out that [one of the airmen] was a Muslim. So, in keeping up and observing their customs na kailangan po within 24 hours ay makuha na po nila—we respect that and we're trying our best to comply with that. Kaya po nandoon yung forensics now to identify who is who sa mga remains,” Basco told reporters.
The PAF expressed its sympathies to the families of the fallen airmen, vowing financial, spiritual, emotional, mental and psychological support and assistance.
“We would be according our heroes honors because they deserve it dahil po ito ay nagawa po nila in their line of duty,” Basco said.
“Ang motto ng 505th [Search and Rescue Group] is ‘That others may live’ and really, they gave their lives po. The Philippine Air Force, hindi po natin papabayaan ang families po nila… Any assistance that we could extend sa kanila, hindi po natin sila papabayaan,” she added.