2 pilots, 2 passengers unhurt as plane crash-lands

FOUR passengers of this Piper Seneca plane, including its two pilots, survived after the plane crash-landed at a rice field in Barangay Domingo Alarcio in Laoac town in Pangasinan province on Wednesday. WILLIE LOMIBAO / CONTRIBUTOR

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines—The twin-engine plane that crash-landed in a rice field in Laoac town in Pangasinan province on Wednesday was forced to make an emergency landing when one of its engines lost power minutes after it took off from neighboring Binalonan town, according to the aircraft’s owner, WCC Aviation Co. (WCCAC).

The four-seat Piper Seneca glided toward the field in Barangay Domingo Alarcio, landing intact, according to the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (MDRRMO) in Laoac. No one among the passengers was hurt.

Richard Tanglao, WCCAC regional sales and marketing manager, said the plane took off from Runway 17 of the Binalonan airfield around 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

“At about 400 feet after takeoff, the aircraft experienced power loss on [its right] engine. The pilot decided to conduct an emergency landing [and aimed for an] open field in Laoac,” said Tanglao in a statement sent by e-mail to media outlets here.

“The aircraft suffered a broken nose [and] landing gear. No fatalities, fire, injuries occurred,” he said.

Supt. Marlou Chan, Pangasinan police director, said the plane was piloted by a Malaysian, identified only as Captain Amardep, 27, who was assisted by copilot Haresh Sager, 20, an Indian. Giovanni Arzadon and Jemar Pantaleon, both aircraft mechanic trainees, were also on the airplane.

Gaylord Abao, head of the MDRRMO in Laoac, said residents saw the plane flying “unusually” low around 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Minutes later, the plane began to descend and landed on a muddy rice field.

Abao said he immediately went to the crash site with an ambulance. He said the airplane’s pilots assured him they were not hurt.

“The plane was in one piece and the pilot and the copilot seemed okay. Maybe because the plane landed in a rice paddy,” Abao said.

Citing conversation he had with WCCAC officials, Abao said the plane was maneuvering for a last pass when it lost power. It was supposed to land at a company-owned airfield in Barangay Limmansangan in

Binalonan.

Tanglao said the pilot followed protocol and had called the Binalonan airfield about his decision to force a landing. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon