MANILA, Philippines - The private plane that crashed in a residential area in Las Piñas City last Saturday carried six drums of gasoline and may have violated air safety regulations, according to the head of the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB), Capt. Josaf Saplan.
The cargo plane, owned by Victoria Air Inc., burst into flames before crashing, leaving four people dead.
“Kaya pala ang hirap patayin ng mga MIAA firemen ang nag-aapoy na eroplano (That’s why firemen had difficulty putting out the fire),” said Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) director Ruben Ciron.
In his report to Ciron, Saplan said the control tower cleared the pilot to take off for Palawan but a few minutes later, he radioed that he was encountering a technical problem and requested to return to base.
The pilot requested to land at Runway 06 and when tower queried if he was declaring an emergency and needed ground assistance upon landing, the pilot said no.
At that time, the tower was sending signals to the aircraft that it was flying too low but the pilot was no longer responding. Then, the tower saw a billow of smoke, realizing that it had crashed.
Ciron has ordered Saplan to get the transcript of communication between the pilot and the control tower.
AN AIIB expert who requested anonymity said carrying gasoline inside the aircraft is strictly prohibited.
Initial reports revealed that 22 families lost their houses as a result of the accident.
The CAAP said they are not responsible for collateral damage but Victoria Air, a cargo service.
Ciron is waiting for the final report today to determine the cause of accident.
He also said people at the control tower will be summoned to explain what really happened.
The CAAP learned yesterday that the plane had no black box.
Ciron however commended the pilot for steering the plane to crash in an abandoned 600-square meter lot, thereby preventing catastrophic results.
The DC 9 is an aircraft at least 30 years old, the first models of which were made in the 1940s.
CAAP said the aircraft with registry No. RPC 550 was piloted by Capt. Benjamin Rivera and First Officer Jaguar Juane who were killed along with crewmembers Richard Genaya and Benjamin Baculfo.
There were also reports that the plane was headed for Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia but this has yet to be confirmed.
There were also three people who were supposed to board the plane but did not. Their names are still being verified.
The CAAP is looking if the plane will be covered by insurance and if it’s still valid.