Student pilot of First Aviation Academy in Subic killed in La Union crash

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines says a P-2010 aircraft (RP-C8230) crashed today in Bauang, La Union, killing its 25-year-old student pilot who was on a solo cross-country flight.
The pilot was a student of First Aviation Academy in Subic. He was identified as Mark Irvin Sabile.

A doctor from the Cana Municipal Health Office declared the student pilot dead before 4 p.m. Wednesday.

“He was immediately brought to the Caba Municipal Health Office where he was declared dead by the attending physician,” the Philippine Coast Guard said.

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The PCG is conducting retrieval operations on the parts of the aircraft that sank in waters some 300 meters from the shore.

CAAP Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board investigators have been dispatched to determine the cause of the accident.
Per its flight plan, the student pilot departed Iba airport in Zambales, en route to La Union & Lingayen airports, before it returns to Iba.
“According to the flight plan filed by the school, the flight originated from Iba Airport in the province of Zambales, en route to La Union Airport and Lingayen Airport, then back to Iba Airport,” CAAP said.

PCG La Union Station Commander Alois Morales said witnesses told them how the trainer plane crashed the sea.

Student pilot of First Aviation Academy in Subic killed in La Union crash

“Ang nakita lang natin na kwento sa atin noong nakakita na nandoon sa area, mga fisherman, nandoon sila nangingisda, biglang pabagsak daw ‘yung eroplano and then sumabog,” Morales told CNN Philippines. “And then ‘yun, tuloy tuloy na ‘yung pagbagsak niya sa dagat.”

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[Translation: What we only know are stories from witnesses in the area, the fishermen, who said the plane suddenly went down and exploded. Then it continued to sink.]

Last month, one person was killed and three others were injured when a (PAF) chopper crashed off the coast of Getafe, Bohol.

The incident happened while the military  helicopter was conducting a proficiency flight.

Three of the four occupants of the chopper jumped before it crashed in Bohol so they survived.

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But the pilot was left behind and died in the incident.

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