C-130 black box analysis to take a month – PAF

MANILA, Philippines — The black box of the ill-fated Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 aircraft has been sent to the United States for analysis and this would take about a month.

Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano, PAF Public Affairs Office chief, said the analysis would aid in the investigation of the crash that killed at least 50 people last week.

The black box contains a captive voice recorder and flight data recorder that will help determine what happened during the fatal crash.

Mariano added that all parts of the C-130 have been recovered and that the military will conduct a reconstruction of the aircraft in Mactan.

“For now, all angles and possibilities are being considered. We can say that recovery in the area is 100 percent complete. (The plane debris) will be placed on a navy vessel and will be brought to Mactan, where it will be reassembled and reconstructed to see the events that may have happened to the aircraft,” he said in Filipino during a Laging Handa press briefing.

Mariano said the C-130 involved in the crash was airworthy, despite it being a refurbished aircraft from the US.

The chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, has ordered a full assessment of all military equipment following the fatal incident.

PAF said it has already transported the remains of 11 out of its 12 fallen airmen to their families.

One cadaver is still for verification and will be brought to the family upon completion of protocols.

“They must not worry, the PAF is doing everything to identify our personnel and be assured that, through dental records and DNA tests, we will ensure that the deceased will be properly brought home to them,” Mariano added.

The PAF assured the dependents of the fallen airmen of assistance and immediate release of monetary benefits.