A Philippine Air Force Huey UH1-1H helicopter on its way to deliver supplies in a mountainous area, crashed under unknown circumstances. There are believed to be at least six fatalities.
According to a police spot report, the PAF helicopter a Huey UH-1H with tail number 517 crashed in Barangay Bulonay in Impasugong, Bukidnon around 2:22 pm.
The helicopter reportedly went “in nose dive position before hitting the ground.”
The casualties included 2 pilots and 2 crew members – all Air Force personnel – and 2 Army personnel who were passengers.
There were no survivors seen in the crash site, while “there were other passengers that has yet to be identified,” said the spot report.
The police spot report said an ambulance took some of the fatalities to a regional hospital unit in Barangay Mapulo in Malaybalay City, capital of Bukidnon.
Personnel from Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion (IB), 4th Infantry Division (ID) have secured the crash site.
In an interview with DZBB, Philippine Army 4th ID public affairs chief Army Major Rodolfo Cordero said the chopper was on its way to deliver supplies to troops stationed in the mountains near Impasugong.
Senior Master Sergeant Teddy Jones Saliot of Impasugong municipal police station told Rappler that the crash site was a “geographically isolated area and 6 hours away from the town proper. “