Downed Sokol chopper repairable, says Air Force official

PHOTO from Philippine Army’s 103rd Brigade

MANILA, Philippines – After one of the Sokol helicopters that escorted three Cabinet secretaries in Marawi City crashed last Thursday, a Philippine Air Force official said Monday that the aircraft could still be repaired.

Lieutenant Colonel Enrico Canaya, however, said that the repairs on the airframe would take a long time and would be costly, which he based on the initial assessments of the chopper.

“Initially, based on the damage to the airframe, it will be costly and will take time to recover,” Canaya said. “Costs and how long to repair is not yet determined.”

During the take-off for the trip to Bukidnon from Marawi City , the escort chopper for the helicopter of Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla crashed leaving two people injured.

Canaya said that the crashed Sokol would be transferred to an undisclosed and “secure” location.

As part of its procedures, the manufacturers of the Sokol chopper have been notified of the crash.

PAF obtained eight units of the Sokol choppers from Polish manufacturers PZL-Swidnik and British-Italian firm AugustaWestland for P2.8 billion.

“Manufacturer is already notified through their local representative and they shall assist the PAF in the determination of the cause of the accident,” Canaya said.

He added that the remaining seven Sokols would remain grounded throughout the investigation.

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