MANILA, Philippines – A private helicopter that had just delivered relief goods to Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) survivors in the Visayas crashed into Manila Bay waters off Bulacan on Sunday, November 24.
The helicopter – a Bolkow 105, which took off from Caticlan in Aklan – is operated by Aviation Enterprises. It was flying back to its home base in Clark, Pampanga, after a humanitarian mission when it encountered engine problem, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
The two people on board are safe. They were spotted by a US C-130 a few miles from the shoreline of Binwangan in Obando, Bulacan, US Marine Captain Caleb Eames of the Third Marine Expeditionary Force said in a radio interview on Monday, November 25.
The C-130 aircraft, which also came from a humanitarian mission in typhoon-ravaged Tacloban City, got a mayday alert from the passengers identified as pilot Captain James Eagle and Captain Iren Dornier around 4 pm, Sunday.
Eames said the US aircraft circled back to find the location of the distress signal and found the crash survivors. Eames said the C-130 flew very low, opened its side doors and threw a life raft out to them.
CAAP said its Operation and Rescue and Coordinating Center contacted the coast guard teams near the area to send boats.
Eams said a fishing boat came to tow the life raft back to shore.
The cause of the crash is being investigated, according to CAAP. – Rappler.com
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