Two injured as plane hits high tension wire

Two residents were injured and the entire Northern Samar lost electricity when a wheel of a 60-seater, twin-engine plane of Asian Spirit hit a high tension wire while landing in the Catarman airport past noon yesterday, authorities said.

The YS-11 plane, piloted by Capt. Romulo Villanueva, landed safely without any casualty, Asian Spirit said in a statement. The plane was reportedly carrying 55 people.

The company said two residents — identified Nicanor Vuenzuela, 27, and Nesle Villanueva, 5 — suffered slight injuries and were released from the hospital after treatment.

The Asian Spirit Flight 587 left Manila at about 10:15 a.m. for Catarman. The incident happened at about 12:25 p.m.

Reports reaching the Air Transportation Office (ATO) said the plane was approaching the runway when one of its wheels snagged a power line of the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative, dragging an electric post that pinned down the two residents.

ATO chief Adelberto Yap ordered the plane grounded at the Catarman airport pending investigation by ATO probers.

Asian Spirit said that upon learning about the incident, its president, Capt. Tony Buendia, and executive vice president Jack Po rushed to Catarman to assess the situation.

As of press time, Northern Samar still had no electricity. — Miriam Garcia Desacada, Rey Arquiza