Air Force team in Marawi to investigate chopper crash

PHOTO from Philippine Army’s 103rd Brigade

MANILA, Philippines – A 21-man team of the Philippine Air Force headed to Marawi City in Lanao del Sur to investigate the crash of the ill-fated Sokol chopper.

“A total of 21 personnel composed the investigating and recovery team headed by Colonel Frederick Cutler of Air Force Safety Office,” Lieutenant Colonel Enrico Canaya told INQUIRER.net.

The team left Villamor Air Base in Pasay City before sunrise on Friday.

Canaya said the Sokol remained at the crash site near 103rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters in Camp Ranao.

On Thursday afternoon, the Sokol chopper carrying 11 people that were part of the convoy of Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin crashed a few minutes after takeoff. It was supposed to fly to Cagayan de Oro.

Two were reportedly injured.

There are eight Sokol choppers in the Air Force inventory. The Polish-made Sokol is a medium-size, twin-engine and multipurpose model manufactured by PZL-swidnik. The first six came in 2012 while the rest arrived in February 2013. The Philippines spent P2.8 billion for the acquisition of the brand-new choppers.

The incident prompted the leadership to ground the seven other Sokol choppers immediately after the crash.

“We have the investigation so pending results we have to ground the Sokol helicopters,” Canaya said.

The Sokol choppers are part of the 505th Search and Rescue Wing based in Villamor Air Base.

“Sokol helicopters will not be used for the meantime but we still have other helicopters to fill the gap it created,” he also said.

Gazmin, meanwhile, said that the Air Force was directed to inform the Sokol manufacturer about the incident.
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