Helicopter Crashes in Rizal: 2 Dead Including Malaysian National, Engine Failure Blamed

A civilian helicopter carrying five people crashed in a vacant lot in Barangay Quisao, Pililla, Rizal early Tuesday morning, killing two passengers and injuring three others including the pilot who is now in critical condition.

Among the fatalities was a Malaysian national, according to Rizal provincial police officer Ramjae Pangga. The other victim was a Filipino passenger. Two of the five people on board were Malaysian citizens, with the remaining three being Filipinos.

Pililla Mayor John Masinsin confirmed that the pilot was critically injured but praised his skill in putting the aircraft down in a residential area without causing harm to anyone on the ground. "The three survivors are still in shock, especially the pilot," the mayor told AFP, adding that they were being transported to a tertiary hospital in Metro Manila at the request of their families.

Police said the emergency landing was forced because the helicopter's engine was about to shut down. The crash happened around 7:27 AM local time in a grassy area roughly two hours southeast of Manila.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has launched a full investigation into the incident to determine exactly what caused the engine failure. Helicopter accidents in the Philippines, while not common, have raised ongoing safety concerns about civilian aviation operations in the country.

Source: Channel News Asia