MANILA, Philippines — The Bell 429 chopper that carried Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa and seven others, including three police generals, does not have a black box that might be used to shed light on what really happened prior to its crash in San Pedro, Laguna Thursday morning.
“Mayroon kasing sinasabi na may (There is information that there are) radar and black box pero we have yet to find out. But according to the provincial director of Laguna who happens to be a pilot, itong (this) Bell 429 wala siyang black box (does not have a black box),” Eleazar said in an interview during his visit at the crash site in Barangay San Antonio.
Eleazar also said the special investigation task group (SITG) formed to probe the incident is looking at whether there was a lapse in the standard operating procedures being observed by PNP pilots in using the agency’s aircraft.
Eleazar is the commander of the SITG Bell 429, composed of various PNP units, that investigates the incident.
The PNP Command Group and Quad Staff had ordered that the entire fleet of its the rotary-wing aircraft be grounded while a “full-blown” investigation is ongoing.
The PNP has seven air assets: the ill-fated Bell 429, two four-seat light helicopter Robinson R44, and four six-seat Airbus Helicopters H125.
According to Eleazar, the SITG would need the advice of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Philippine Air Force Safety Office, since an investigation on aircraft accidents is a different field than normal probes handled by the police.
“This is probably the first time that the PNP will conduct aircraft crash investigation. We really need the help of concerned agencies even though we have seasoned investigators,” he said.
Local police earlier said the pilots tried to take off the eight-seat helicopter at a dusty portion of the area, hampering visibility. The chopper plummeted after it got tangled with a high-tension wire.
Aside from Gamboa, other passengers of the chopper were Maj. Gen. Mariel Magaway, PNP Director for Intelligence; Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Ramos, Director for Comptrollership; Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson; pilot Lt. Col. Ruel Zalatar; co-pilot Lt. Col. Rico Macawili; Senior Master Sergeant Louie Estona, helicopter crew; and Capt. Keventh Gayramara, Gamboa’s aide.
All individuals in the helicopter are safe and only sustained minor injuries, except Magaway and Ramos who remain unconscious and are in critical condition as of posting time.