SUBIC BAY FREEPORT- A Philippine Air Force (PAF) soldier participating in Balikatan 2016 died on Thursday in a parachuting accident.
The unidentified Airman 2nd Class of the PAF’s 710 Special Action Operations Wing took part in a proficiency jump exercise, but was dragged by strong winds towards the sea at 3:45 p.m. near the Subic International Airport, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Twenty paratroopers from the 710 Special Operations Wing conducted proficiency jump at Subic Bay International Airport as drop zone. The victim was one of the first batch of 10 jumpers but landed at 30 feet deep.
A force protection team from the Philippines and United States stationed at the drop zone sped towards the soldier, but the rescue and recovery operation took 15 minutes.
The soldier was brought to the Unihealth Hospital here but was declared dead at 6 p.m. With a report from Frances Mangosing