Monday, April 9, 2007

Chopper crash lands in Laguna; six persons hurt

By Ronron
April 8, 2007

A private chopper chartered by an opposition senatorial candidate to deliver campaign materials crashed on Saturday afternoon at a house in Laguna province due to mechanical problems.

Police said the twin-engine chopper (body number RP-C1495 / Agusta-109A) crash landed at around 3:15 pm the other day (Saturday) at a house on No. 6 P. Cabrera St., Barangay III-B, San Pablo City, owned by couple Nicanor and Aleli Chaylee.

The chopper, police said, was carrying campaign materials of Senatorial candidate Loren Legarda of the Genuine Opposition.

The six persons aboard it, including its pilot and flight mate/aircraft mechanic, sustained minor injuries only, the police said.

On the other hand, no one from the Chaylee’s residence was hurt.

Initial investigation disclosed that one of the engines of the chopper conked out as it was nearing its destination, the Platon Elementary School Landing Site in Barangay III-C, same city.

Police said the second engine failed to sustain the flight, resulting in the crashlanding.

Badly damaged were the two bedrooms and the porch of the Chaylee’s residence. The incident also resulted in power blackout in the immediate neighborhood.

Police said the chopper, registered under the Country Club Development Corporation, came from the Manila Domestic Airport.

Its pilot was identified as Isabelito Floro, 57, while the Aircraft mechanic was identified as Vincent Velasco, 30.

The four passengers were the following: 1) Gil Portugal, 39; 2) Adolfo de Ramos, 50; 3) Rey Salud, 38; and, 4) Cathy Palparan, 44.

All six were brought to a hospital in the city for medical treatment but were declared to be in stable condition./DMS

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