8 hurt as Air Force chopper crashes in Leyte

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Eight were injured as a Huey helicopter of the Philippine Air Force crashed off Leyte on Friday afternoon, the military said.

Reports reaching the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office said the chopper crashed near Bagacay Dos village in La Paz town in Leyte at around 3:45 p.m.

The chopper allegedly malfunctioned, the initial report said.

A squad from the 78th Infantry Battalion was sent and the Tactical Operations Group dispatched one helicopter and a medical team.
Army’s 8th Infantry Division spokesman Captain Amado Gutierrez, meanwhile, said all of the passengers– six crew and two staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development–were safe . They were brought to Burauen District Hospital.

Four of the passengers were transferred to a Tacloban City hospital. All of the eight sustained “slight” injuries.

Gutierrez said the Huey had “engine trouble.”

Originally posted at 5:46 p.m.