Light plane crashes off Mactan; all 3 persons aboard safe

Three persons escaped unhurt Thursday when their small aircraft crashed into the waters off Lapu-Lapu City, in Cebu, authorities said.

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Three persons escaped unhurt Thursday when their small aircraft crashed into the waters off Lapu-Lapu City, in Cebu, authorities said.

The three were unscathed and sought help from a nearby fisherman who then picked them up and took them to Hadsan Cove Beach Resort in Barangay  Agus, Lapu-Lapu City.

The police identified the three as Captain Joseph Brent Chong Jr., pilot; Captain Saturnino dela Cruz, check pilot; and passenger Dito Adrian.

They were all personnel of the Mactan Aviation Technological Center in Lapu-Lapu who were on a check ride when the aircraft crashed, according to a report received by the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office.

Julius Pagas, police radio operator, said they received a message at 11:30 a.m. that the Cessna plane had crashed into the sea off Hadsan Cove Beach Resort.

Several policemen responded to the alarm and confirmed that the three people on board were safe.

According to a female staffer at the resort, the plane crashed at some distance from the resort.

The staffer, who declined to give her name, said the three were not hurt. “They were just wet,” she said.

They were taken to the resort by a fisherman who picked them up.

She added that one of the three who spoke in Tagalog had asked to use the resort’s telephone.