3 in plane crash off resort in Cebu ‘just wet’

CEBU CITY—Three persons escaped unscathed Thursday when the small aircraft they were riding crashed into the waters off Lapu-Lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu.

The three were unhurt and had sought the help of a fisherman who picked them up and brought them to Hadsan Cove Beach Resort in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City.

Police identified the three as Capt. Joseph Brent Chong Jr., pilot; Capt. 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 test ride when the aircraft crashed, according to a report received by the Lapu-Lapu City police.

Police received a report past 11 a.m. about the crash.

A female worker at the resort, who asked that she not be identified for not having authority to speak on the matter, said the plane went down some distance from the resort.

The two pilots and lone passenger of the plane were apparently unhurt as one of them, according to the worker, even asked for permission to use the resort’s phone. “They were just wet,” said the worker.