One dies, three survive chopper mishap; MG520 choppers grounded
MANILA – An airman died while three others survived when an MG520 with tail number # 410 from the 15h Strike wing crashed at the vicinity of Jetafe in Bohol province at about 9:30 A.M. today while on an engineering flight.
In a statement, Philippine Air Force Spokesman Lt. Col. Maynard P. Mariano said members of the PAF 505 Search and Rescue Group, elements of the 47th Infantry Battalion and Bohol Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office rushed the three crew members to the nearest medical facility for emergency treatment.
He said Lt. General Allen T. Paredes, Philippine Air Force commanding general and the entire command has expressed sadness for the loss of their crew. They have already informed the fatality’s and survivors’ families. All possible assistance will be extended to the victims’ families.
In a related development, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has grounded all MG520 fleet as it assured the public all its assets are undergoing strict regular and redundant maintenance before and after flight missions.
Over at Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, AFP Chief of Staff General Cirilito Sobejana extended his solidarity with the families of the MG520 crew who were involved in a crash at mid-morning today in Bohol province.
“We send our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues as we offer our support in any way we can,” he said in a statement released by AFP Spokesperson Marine Major General Edgard Arevalo.
The still unidentified pilot perished in the accident while his co-pilot and two members of his crew survived and now being attended to in a medical facility in Talibon.
An investigation into the circumstances about the crash will be made soonest.
MG-520 is a four-seater attack helicopter made by McDonnel Douglas. There were 25 MG-520 helicopters during the early 1990s and can be equipped with .50 calibre heavy machine guns and air-to-ground rockets. Sources said there are about 12 MG520 units in the PAF inventory. (Melo M. Acuña)
MG-520 gunship. (File Photo from 15th Strike Wing, Philippine Air Force)