Dalawang Patay, Tatlo Sugatan sa Helicopter Crash sa Pililla, Rizal
A private helicopter went down in a farm in Barangay Quisao, Pililla, Rizal on Tuesday morning, killing two of the five people on board and leaving three others injured — one critically. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is now investigating the cause of the crash.
Pililla Mayor John Masinsin confirmed the tragedy, telling reporters that one passenger died at the crash site while the other was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. The pilot sustained critical injuries and was immediately processed for transfer to a larger medical facility, while the remaining two passengers were reported to be in relatively stable condition.
Masinsin noted that no homes or structures in the area were damaged by the crash. The civilian helicopter went down in a farm area, and authorities are still working to determine exactly where the aircraft departed from, where it was headed, and what caused the incident.
Emergency responders from the local government and national agencies quickly mobilized to the remote crash site. The families of the victims and survivors have been contacted and are coordinating with local officials. The identities of the passengers have not yet been publicly released pending notification of all next of kin.
Helicopter accidents in the Philippines, while not frequent, have raised concerns about aviation safety standards for private aircraft. The investigation will likely focus on mechanical failure, weather conditions, and pilot factors as possible causes. Residents of the barangay described hearing a loud noise before seeing the wreckage in the field.
Source: Philstar