MANILA, Philippines- Bumuo ng team ang Philippine Navy upang imbestigahan ang April 11 helicopter crash sa Cavite City na kumitil sa buhay ng dalawang piloto, ayon kay Navy spokesperson Commander John Percie Alcos.
“The investigation team was organized and created yesterday by the commander of the Naval Air Wing… This would prompt the start of the investigation,” wika ni Alcos nitong Biyernes.
“At this point, wala pa [possible angles]. We’ll make sure the investigation will be very thorough and comprehensive and expeditious so that we can ascertain ano ba talaga ang cause ng aksidente and para hindi na maulit ang ganitong insidente in the future,” dagdag niya.
Kinilala ng Navy ang mga nasawing piloto na sina Lt. Jan Kyle Torres, 36, at Ens. Izzah Leonah Taccad, 27.
Umalis ang mga piloto, na nagpalipad sa Robinson R22 trainer helicopter, ng Sangley Airport at tinangkang mag-emergency landing subalit bumagsak malapit sa Cavite City Public Market bandang alas-6 ng umaga.
“This is an established training route. Most of our training flights are conducted in the Cavite area because the HQs of the Naval Air Wing is situated there. They only deviated from the flight plan because they wanted to stay away from the populated area during the conduct of the emergency landing para walang madamay when they crashed,” anang Navy spokesperson.
“This is a regular training flight. Ang instructor dito ay si Lt. Borres, who is [was] an experienced naval aviator, having been deployed all over the archipelago, even in the WPS. Ang student pilot dito ay si Ens. Taccad. Hindi na rin bago para kay Ens. Taccad ang pagpapalipad pero before you transition into the more capable helicopters we have like the AW109 and AW159, kailangan magsimula ka muna sa trainer helos,” paglalahad ni Alcos.
Aniya pa, “Si Lt. Borres is [was] one of our best helicopter pilots, one of the most experienced also. Matagal nang nasa serbisyo si Lt. Borres. Si Ens. Taccad naman, nag-undergo siya ng basic pilot training last year, so mag-iisang taon na rin na piloto si Ens. Taccad. She is now specializing in flying helicopters.”
Iginiit ng opisyal na mahigpit ang Navy sa pagsasagawa ng progressive maintenance schedules ng assets nito.
“Not only with aircraft, but even with ships and vehicles, very strict ang PH Navy sa pag-conduct ng progressive maintenance schedules. This is to ensure that assets, whether at sea, land or sa panghipampapawid ay operationally ready,” wika niya.
Sa kabila ng insidente, sinabi ng Navy official na hindi maaantala ang pagsasanay ng kanilang naval aviators.
“The training programs of our naval aviators will remain on schedule… We still have our Cessna training aircraft, at the same time, we can actually explore conducting joint trainings with other uniformed services,” giit ni Alcos.
Patuloy niya, “The R22 that crashed yesterday was the last one we have. There’s no need for us to ground other aircraft.”
Inilibing na nitong Biyernes sina Borres at Taccad sa Libingan ng mga Bayani sa Taguig City. RNT/SA
