Technical, mechanical problems ruled out in PAF plane crash
An FA-50 fighter jet at Clark Air Base in Pampanga. —INQUIRER.net/Faith Argosino
CAMP CAPINPIN, RIZAL, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said on Tuesday that the risk of night flying over mountainous terrain and the complexity of multi-aircraft combat operations led to the crash of an FA-50 fighter jet on Mount Kalatungan in Bukidnon province.
PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said this was the finding of a “thorough investigation” into the March 4 crash that killed Maj. Jude Salang-Oy and First Lieutenant April John Dadulla.
“Whenever they are flying over mountainous terrain, there are other factors: visibility, wind condition[s],” Castillo said at a news briefing here.
READ: PAF grounds FA-50 fleet after fatal Bukidnon crash
“It’s difficult to fly multiple aircraft. There’s a lot of coordination that needs to be done flawlessly,” she added.
“Let us be very clear: Based on the data that was extracted and assessed, there was no technical or mechanical problem that caused the mishap,” she said.
She appealed to the public to refrain from “finger-pointing,” urging everyone “to have more understanding and consideration.”
“Moving forward, the PAF is committed to strengthening our safety protocols, fostering excellence in every mission through a more robust organizational safety culture, prioritizing the well-being of our personnel and the preservation of our equipment in all future operations,” she added.
Improvements needed
“What is important is the PAF recognizes that we need to improve on our safety protocols. At the same time, look at the different aspects from mission planning, preparation [as well as] the way we execute using our tactics, techniques and procedures,” she said.
The crash was the first recorded accident since the government acquired 12 FA-50 fighter jets from Korea Aerospace Industries, South Korea’s sole aircraft maker.
The PAF immediately grounded its FA-50 fleet following the crash, but Castillo said the ban was lifted on March 25.
She earlier said the government needed to have the fighter jets up in the air “to guard our territorial waters and whenever we need it to support our ground operations.”
The FA-50s, she added, are also involved in maritime patrols and internal security operations.
On Monday, the fighter jets flew alongside the F-16 fighter jets of the US Pacific Air Forces as part of the opening of the “Cope Thunder” exercises between the air assets of the two countries at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
