PH Air Force makes public names of dead in Black Hawk chopper crash
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday made public for the first time the identities of the six crewmen who were killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in Tarlac province last week.
The six, who died in the crash, were Lt. Col. Rexzon Pasco, instructor pilot; Maj. Jayrold Constantino, student pilot; Maj. Erano Belen, student pilot; MSgt. Ronnie Reducto, instructor scanner; TSgt Maricar Laygo, student scanner and Sgt. Leonardo Tandingan, student scanner.
Their remains were finally retrieved last June 27. They were given full military honors at Clark Air Base on June 28, the PAF said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana personally visited the wakes and condoled with families of the crash fatalities.
The bodies will be brought to their respective hometowns. The PAF said it will extend all necessary assistance and support.
One of the PAF’s new Sikorsky S-170 Black Hawk helicopters crashed near Sitio Binyanan at the village of O’ Donnel, in Capas, Tarlac while on a night proficiency training flight on Wednesday (June 23).
Article continues after this advertisementAn investigation continues and the rest of the fleet will not be flown pending its results.
Article continues after this advertisementThe PAF said it has yet to retrieve the wreckage of the helicopter.
The Philippine government earlier procured 16 units of Black Hawk helicopters for P12.1 billion to replace the aging Vietnam-era Hueys mainly used for transport tasks.
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