DAVAO CITY – Residents living around the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division (6th ID) headquarters in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao were stunned after a rocket from one of the military’s attack helicopter accidentally launched a rocket, a military spokesperson said.
Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, 6th ID spokesperson, told The Manila Bulletin initial reports stated that the misfire happened while a Philippine Air Force (PAF) crew was loading a rocket.
No one was hurt as the rocket hit an uninhabited area.
Atilano added that the PAF’s MG-520 attack helicopter was still at the tarmac of the Tactical Operations Group - 12 and the crew was preparing for a mission when it happened.
“Wala pa ang mga piloto sa cockpit ng chopper, ang crew lang was loading the rockets into the pods,” the military spokesperson said.
Atilano further said that the rocket hit a swampy area near the Division Training School (DTS).
He said the PAF was already conducting an investigation into the incident.
The MG-520s are the among the primary PAF’s assets providing close air support to the ground troops during counter insurgency or anti-terrorism missions.