5 soldiers hurt as chopper makes emergency landing in Rizal

A military chopper makes an emergency landing in Taytay, Rizal. Chino Gaston

Five soldiers were injured on Wednesday when the chopper they were riding made an emergency landing in Rizal, police said. Senior Superintendent Cesar Prieto, Rizal provincial police director, said the Philippine Air Force (PAF) chopper landed on a vacant lot in Daan Putol in Barangay San Isidro in Taytay town at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday. The soldiers who obtained “minor" injuries due to the incident were pilot Lt. Col. Robert Bitas, co-pilot Lt. Paul Yu, SSgt. Ruel Realin, Sgt. Edmund Cubillan and Airman 2nd Class Elias Alinday. Prieto said that the chopper incurred “major damage" but did not elaborate on what caused it. Authorities are still investigating the incident, he added.
Meanwhile, PAF spokesman Lt. Col. Miguel Okol in a dzBB interview said the incident has prompted Air Force officials to temporarily suspend air operations while a probe is being conducted. "For the meantime as per our procedures we will have to stop all air operations (but) within the day we will determine the cause of the incident," Okol said. Okol said the chopper sustained damage but was still "recoverable," although it was not fit to to be flown back. He also said the incident will not cripple the AFP's fleet of Huey-type helicopters, saying it has "seven airworthy helicopters of different types." "We have substantial helicopters, no need to worry," he added. — LBG, GMA News