INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The pilot who was also the lone passenger of a helicopter that crashed in Guimba, Nueva Ecija on Saturday night died, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio did not name the pilot but revealed that the casualty was a female.
READ: CAAP: Probe into helicopter crash in Nueva Ecija underway
鈥淚nitial reports indicate that the helicopter departed Manila at 10:22 a.m. on February 1, 2025 en route to Baguio, where it dropped off a passenger. It then took off from Baguio at 11:51 a.m. for Binalonan, landing at 12:05 p.m. for refueling,鈥� Apolonio said in a statement on Sunday morning.
鈥淏inalonan Airport officials noted that the aircraft experienced difficulty restarting its engine before departing at 4:30 p.m. Authorities later confirmed with the Guimba Police Station that the crash site was located in Purok Arimungmong, Barangay San Miguel. The lone occupant, a female pilot, did not survive the incident,鈥� he added.
Apolonio said the body was already retrieved from the crash site. He did not provide other details.
Earlier, CAAP said it already dispatched its Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board lead investigator (Ret.) Col. Rhomel Ronda to the crash site to determine the cause of the incident.
Ronda鈥檚 deployment came after the Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center received multiple emergency alerts.
鈥淐AAP in coordination with local authorities is conducting a thorough investigation. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available,鈥� the agency said.