The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is now conducting a thorough investigation into the helicopter crash in Nueva Ecija that left a female pilot dead on Saturday night, Feb 1.
In a statement, the CCA said it already sent retired colonel Rhomel Ronda, from the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB), to the crash site in Guimba town to probe into all the circumstances that led to the incident.
“The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines confirms that a helicopter has crashed in Guimba, Nueva Ecija. The CAAP in coordination with local authorities is conducting a thorough investigation,” the statement read.
Based on the initial report, the chopper departed Manila at 10:22 a.m. on Feb. 1 and arrived in Baguio City where it dropped off a passenger.
It then took off from Baguio and was on its way to Binalonan for refueling.
But airport officials in Binalonan said the helicopter experienced difficulty restarting its engine before departing at 4:30 p.m.