Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday, Sept. 1 disclosed that a “confluence of many events” triggered the crashes of the C-130 cargo plane and S-70i Black Hawk helicopter that killed a total of 59 people.

Lorenzana said the official report of the Philippine Air Force probe into the two incidents was expected to be released within 24 hours, adding that the House of Representatives will be furnished a copy.

Appearing before the House Committee on Appropriations to present the Department of National Defense budget, Lorenza admitted knowing what was written in the report and revealed what he learned from the investigating team.

With regards the C-130 crash that killed 53 individuals,50 of them military personnel, Lorenzana said ‘defective instruments and systems’ were to be blamed for the air accident.

“Plus of course, the reaction of the pilot which was not also appropriate for the emergency (situation),” he told lawmakers.

On the newly-acquired Black Hawk, Lorenzana said investigators pointed to bad weather as the chopper flew on thick clouds.

“Nakapasok sila sa clouds, nagkaroon ng vertigo ang piloto (they got inside clouds, the pilot had vertigo. This is more on the systems of the aircraft and weather interference” he explained.

Believed to be the worst air disaster in Philippine military history, the C-130H Hercules cargo plane crashed in Patikul, Sulu on July 4.

Barely two week before, the newly-acquired S-70i Black Hawk Utility Helicopter of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing of the Philippine Air Force went down a few kilometers from the Colonel Ernest Rabina Air Base in Capas, Tarlac.

Six individuals died in the incident.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday, Sept. 1 disclosed that a “confluence of many events” have triggered the crashes of the C-130 cargo plane and S-70i Black Hawk helicopter that killed 59 people.

Lorenzana said the official report of the Philippine Air Force (PAF() probe into the two incidents were expected to be released within 24 hours, adding that the House of Representatives will be furnished a copy.

Appearing before the House Committee on Appropriations to present the Department of National Defense budget, Lorenza admitted knowing what was written in the report and revealed what he learned from the investigating team.

With regards the C-130 crash that killed 53 individuals,50 of them military personnel, Lorenzana said ‘defective instruments and systems’ were to be blamed for the air accident.

“Plus of course, the reaction of the pilot which was not also appropriate for the emergency (situation),” he told lawmakers.

On the newly-acquired Black Hawk, Lorenzana said investigators pointed to bad weather as the chopper flew on thick clouds.

“Nakapasok sila sa clouds, nagkaroon ng vertigo ang piloto (they got inside clouds, the pilot had vertigo. This is more on the systems of the aircraft and weather interference” he explained.

Believed to be the worst air disaster in Philippine military history, the C-130H Hercules cargo plane crashed in Patikul, Sulu on July 4.

Barely two week before, the newly-acquired S-70i Black Hawk Utility Helicopter of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing of the Philippine Air Force went down a few kilometers from the Colonel Ernest Rabina Air Base in Capas, Tarlac.

Six individuals died in the incident.

The DND is seeking a P297.13 billion budget for 2022.