2 Japanese, 4 others hurt in plane crash

PINAMALAYAN, Oriental Mindoro — A six-seater single engine CESSNA plane with flight# RB-C24 of the Pacific Airways crashed yesterday morning two kms. away from the runway of Pinamalayan airport in Oriental Mindoro. Six of its passengers including two Japanese survived with minor injuries.

Police Inspector Virgilio Manahan identified the survivors as Captain Henry Barro Jr., (pilot), Yolanda Solano, Rachel Melissa Maddi, Jose Luis Maddi, Daisuke Kawaguchi, Eui Kawakani.

They were all taken to the Pinamalayan Doctors Hospital in Pinamalayan Mindoro for emergency treatment before traveling back to Manila.

According to the pilot, they left Manila domestic airport at around 8 p.m. heading for Boracay beach resort in Caticlan, Antique when they experienced engine trouble 7,000 feet above Pinamalayan town in Mindoro.

The plane was seen hovering as the pilot tried to land in a 70-meter long stretch of rice field in Brgy. Bambang. The plane hit the ground so strong, breaking loose its front wheels and turned turtle several times according to the witness. The aircraft, witnesses described was a total wreck — the wings and tail were broken and its body was twisted.