Air Force helicopter crashes in Cagayan de Oro City

An Air Force Huey chopper crashed inside Army’s 4th ID headquarters. BOBBY LAGSA

MANILA, Philippines—A Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed as it was about to take off on Wednesday afternoon at a military headquarters in Cagayan de Oro City.

“The UH-1H [Huey] with tail number 518 rolled over while it was about to take off inside Army’s 4th Infantry Division Headquarters at Camp Evangelista at 3:30 p.m.,” Air Force spokesperson Lt. Col. Enrico Canaya said.

The helicopter’s two pilots and two crew bound for Tactical Operations Group 10 at Lumbia Airport were using safety harnesses. They were able to fly three to five feet above the ground before the chopper rolled over.

All were unharmed except for the copilot who suffered a sprained foot but was immediately discharged from the hospital.

The incident prompted all Huey choppers to be grounded. There are more than 20 Hueys in the Air Force inventory.

“Aircraft was damaged but extent still being verified,” Canaya said.

The Hueys are the primary helicopters of the Air Force. It is a military utility helicopter used by the US during the Vietnam War.

An Air Force plane also crashed off Nasugbu in Batangas over the weekend, killing two pilots.

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