2 Cessna pilots survive Ecija crash

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines – Two pilots, including a Myanmar national, cheated death when the Cessna plane they were driving crash-landed in a heavily populated area in Rizal, Nueva Ecija last Thursday, police said.

Senior Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves, provincial police director, identified the surviving pilots as Paul Paultad, 30, and Wen Htet, 21, a Myanmar national.

The incident took place at around 7:30 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Poblacion Norte, Rizal. Police said Paultad was piloting the four-seater plane with body number RP-C1025 when it suddenly plunged and slammed into the house of Glenn Paraiso, 54, who also reportedly sustained injuries.

Both pilots sustained head injuries and were rushed to the Dr. Rafael Clinic in Barangay Poblacion Sur, Rizal.

PO3 Eric Martin, Rizal police investigator, said they still have to determine the cause of the crash-landing and the extent of damage to the plane.

He said officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines would conduct a separate probe.