Another light plane crashes on Batangas beach

BATANGAS, Philippines– A light aircraft crash landed on a beach in Calatagan town in Batangas Friday afternoon, police reported yesterday.

The plane’s pilot, Roel Marquez, 46, of CM-Aero Co., was unhurt.

Batangas police director Senior Superintendent Omega Jireh Fidel said the Cessna plane came from Palawan and was heading to Sangley Point in Cavite when the pilot lost control of the plane at around 4:15 p.m.

Marquez decided to make an emergency landing along the shore of Barangay Talisay.

The plane, which was loaded with 28 boxes of lapu-lapu fish, sustained damage on its wings and landing gears.

It came from Busuanga in Palawan where it picked up its cargo, which was supposed to be delivered to Cavite.

In another incident, a twin-engine plane landed on its belly at the Manila Domestic Airport (MDA) after its landing gears malfunctioned Friday afternoon.

The plane came from Sangley Airport to unload its cargo of marine products it picked up from Palawan.

The pilot, identified as Capt. Sherwin Rala, and his assistant Capt. Tina Bautista, were preparing to land when the plane malfunctioned.

Airport authorities said the plane was almost out of fuel.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is investigating the incidents.

Earlier, a student pilot was injured when a trainer plane overshot a runway in San Fernando City in La Union. – With Ed Amoroso, Rudy Santos