An aircraft piloted by a 25-year-old student pilot crash-landed at Urayong Bayan in Bauang, La Union on Wednesday, May 26, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.

In a statement, CAAP said that the student pilot from First Aviation Academy in Subic Bay International Airport was conducting a solo cross-country flight. The student was piloting a Tecnam P-2010 with registry number RP-C8230.

“According to the flight plan filed by the school, the flight originated from Iba Airport in the province of Zambales, en route to La Union Airport and Lingayen Airport, then back to Iba Airport,” said CAAP.

An investigation on the cause of the accident is ongoing.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that the aircraft crashed off Caba, La Union at around 11:30 am on Wednesday.

The student’s body was recovered by the Philippine National Police. He was brought to the Caba Municipal Health Office but was declared dead by the attending physician.

The student pilot, according to PCG, is a resident of Apalit, Pampanga. 

The PCG is retrieving aircraft debris, “which sunk at approximately 300 meters away from the shoreline.” – Rappler.com