MANILA - Reports reaching Manila indicated that a Sokol helicopter of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), one of the eight PZL W-3A Sokols ordered from Poland, crashed just after take off in Marawi City on Thursday.
The Philippine Army's 1st Infantry Division Commander, Brig. Gen. Gerardo Barrientos Jr., said the incident happened at around 2:26 p.m. at 103rd Brigade's Camp Ranao.
The helicopter was supposed to serve as backup for Secretary of National Defense, Voltaire T. Gazmin, who was aboard the other helicopter, which safely arrived at its destination at Langundingan Airport about 3:13 PM.
"Thank God all are safe. They're on their way home now, to Manila," Barrientos told Interaksyon.com in a phone interview.
The Department of National defense issued the following statement regarding the incident, in part:
"The helicopter was part of the aerial convoy of Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas III.
"We still have no information on the exact identities of the passengers but we were informed that everyone is safe.
"Both Secretary Gazmin and Secretary Roxas were aboard another helicopter when the incident occurred.
"An investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of this incident."
When contacted on his mobile phone, the 4th ID Commander, Maj. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, said, after the incident: "We're OK now and on board the second Sokol chopper. Don't worry my friend, we're alive and still kicking."
Visaya said some high government officials were in Marawi for a conference over the Mindanao power shortage issue.
According to Barrientos, the pilot of the Sokol suffered a slight foot injury as the result of the rough landing, but the Sokol may have incurred heavy damage and looks no longer serviceable.
The helicopter was among the eight brand new aircraft purchased by the Department of National Defense (DND) and PAF from PZL Swidnik (now AgustaWestland Åšwidnik) based in Poland two years ago.
The aircraft was once lambasted by President Aquino in his state of the nation address when he pointed out that the door gun was blocking the door opening for mounting and dismounting troops in a combat situation.
Another unit was also once the subject of criticisms when it remained stuck for almost a week on the parade ground at Camp Aguinaldo after it lost power while trying to take off.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/92837/polish-made-paf-helicopter-in-crash-landing-after-marawi-take-off
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