PAF helicopters grounded after crash

MANILA, Philippines - All UH-1D helicopters of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) have been grounded pending the result of the investigation into the crash in Tanay, Rizal on Thursday that killed three persons and injured another.

 “The PAF sent a team to conduct an investigation as well as inspect other UH-ID helicopters as per standard operating procedure,” Col. Antonio Francisco, PAF spokesman, said.

The UH-ID helicopter with Tail No. 8469 crash-landed in Sitio Hilltop, Barangay Sampaloc at around 2:56 p.m. 

The pilot, Capt. Christian Paul Titan; helicopter gunner Airman First Class Joseph de Leon and Sgt. Byron Tolosa died in the accident. They were accorded funeral honors at the Villamor Air Base yesterday.

 The co-pilot, 1st Lt. Ceazar Rimas, is in stable condition at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in Quezon City.

The mishap was the second involving a UH-1D helicopter since November 2015, when another crash-landed in  Malapatan, Sarangani.

Former defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin ordered the cancellation of the contract for the purchase of 21 UH-1D helicopters worth P1.2 billion also in 2015 over alleged irregularities.