Two were reported dead after a Huey helicopter of the Philippine Air Force 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing crashed at the Cauayan Air Station in Cauayan City, Isabela province late on Thursday (July 23).
According to Brig. Gen. Crizaldo Nieves, Cagayan Valley regional police chief, the helicopter was carrying five passengers. Authorities have recovered two bodies at the crash scene while two more persons were missing. One crew member was rushed to Isabela United Doctors Medical Center.
The identities of the victims are not yet determined, Nieves added.
The PAF said the UH-1D Huey with tail No. 8308 was on a night vision training when it crashed during takeoff at the Tactical Operations Group 2 (TOG2) around 7 p.m., Thursday.
Air Force authorities were recovering the aircraft to identify if there were more casualties inside. They also vowed to probe the incident.
“As of this time, recovery of the aircraft is being executed to determine the number of casualties,” the PAF statement said. “The PAF will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the incident,” it said.
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According to an earlier report from INQUIRER.net, Cauayan City Police Station officers said the Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed at the TOG2 area.
“The police station, however, declined to give further details about the crash. Initial reports from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) jibed with the PAF statement. The CAAP said the helicopter had tail No. 8308 and crashed near the TOG2’s ramp area,” the report said.
CAAP said the military helicopter carried two pilots, a passenger, and two crewmen.
According to FAS, “The most widely used military helicopter, the Bell UH-1 series Iroquois, better known as the “Huey”, began arriving in Vietnam in 1963. Before the end of the conflict, more than 5,000 of these versatile aircraft were introduced into Southeast Asia.”
“Hueys” were used for MedEvac, command, and control, and air assault; to transport personnel and materiel, and as gunships. Considered to be the most widely used helicopter in the world, with more than 9,000 produced from the 1950s to the present, the Huey is flown today by about 40 countries.