Norwegian, co-pilot killed in plane crash

Lashed by strong winds, a Cessna plane that took off from Cebu crashed into a coconut tree in Camiguin Island resulting in the deaths of a Norwegian woman and a co-pilot at past 7 a.m yesterday.

Norwegian tourist Raguel Strande and Filipino pilot Christian Cesar Cebrecus died before reaching the Camiguin General hospital, police officer German Abian said.

Strande’s husband Lance and their three-year-old daughter Jensola were seriously injured when the Cessna plane crashed near a house and road outside the airport in Mambajao town, Camiguin, police officer Franquilino Linda said.

Linda said the chartered plane took off from the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and tried to land on Camiguin province located about 199 kilometers away after being buffeted by strong winds.

The single-engine Cessna plane went out of control and missed the runway, said Linda who saw the plane shortly before the crash.

He said the pilot tried to abort the landing after “missing much of the runway” in order to regain altitude.

“But the plane clipped the top of a coconut tree then slammed into another. The plane then tumbled down to the ground with the tree,” Linda told The Associated Press by phone.

Abian said Cebrecus’ Indonesian co-pilot, Nurmala Dewy also sustained injuries.

He said the Strandes chartered the plane to follow a group of fellow Norwegian tourists after failing to get seats on a commercial flight to Camiguin.

Strande was devastated by the tragedy and repeatedly shook his head after being told that his wife had died, Abian said.

Authorities planned to transfer Strande, his son and the Indonesian pilot to another hospital in Cebu for further treatment though doctors declared them out of danger, he said.

Camiguin Island which is located about 440 miles or 710 kilometers southeast of Manila, is popular among local and foreign tourists for its white sand beaches and dive spots.

The Mactan office of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will investigate the incident.

CAAP area manager Agnes Udang said they are trying to contact the head of Aviatour Flight School that owns the Cessna plane.

She said they will also notify  the family and relatives of the Strandes on the incident. Inquirer with reports from AP and Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus