5 hurt in military chopper crash

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A military helicopter crashed in the southern Philippines early yesterday, slightly injuring two pilots and three other crew members, the Army said.

The UH-1H aircraft crashed in a corn field outside the town of Saguiaran in Lanao del Sur province shortly after taking off from nearby Marawi City at around 7:25 a.m., Southern Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko said.

Kyamko said marines and personnel from the Joint Task Force Ranaw and Task Force Diamond rushed to the crash site to help the crew and secure the area.

Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesman Lt. Col. Restituto Padilla said the helicopter was on its way to Cagayan de Oro City to transport extra security for President Arroyo, including senior military officials.

Mrs. Arroyo, who is seeking a fresh mandate in the May 10 elections, was scheduled to visit three southern cities yesterday.

A PAF report said the pilots, Capt. Arvin Ricabierta and Lt. Norman Alinsangan, initiated emergency landing procedures shortly after experiencing a "decay in aircraft performance" as they were cruising at an altitude of 2,500 feet along with two other Huey helicopters 15 minutes after leaving Marawi City.

The helicopter sustained damage at the tail boom section and its landing skids. The three helicopters, detailed with the 6th Infantry Division at Cotabato City, had been sent to Cagayan de Oro City to support ongoing operations of the 4th Infantry Division.

Padilla said the cause of the crash is still unknown.

The two pilots and three unidentified crew members suffered only minor injuries and were brought to a hospital, he said.

Accidents involving the Vietnam War-vintage Huey helicopters are common in the Philippines but PAF officials said there is no need to ground all UH-1H aircraft because of yesterday’s incident. — Sandy Araneta, Jaime Laude, Bong Fabe