Trainer plane makes emergency landing in Bulacan

CAMP ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan, Philippines — A pilot and his student survived after their trainer plane developed engine trouble and made an emergency landing in a grassland in Plaridel town in this province yesterday morning.

Col. Satur Ediong, Bulacan police director, said Valentine Bartolome and his student, David John Cayaban, did not suffer any injury.

Initial investigation showed the two-seater PA 38 Piper Tomahawk with body number RP-C1085 took off at 9:45 a.m. from the Fliteline Flying School in Barangay Lumang Bayan.

Bartolome told investigators that while in mid-flight, the plane’s engine stopped, forcing him to make an emergency landing at around 9:50 a.m.

Members of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ security intelligence service rushed to the crash site to investigate, Ediong said.

Eric Apolonio, spokesman for the CAAP, said the plane is being operated by Fliteline Aviation.