Air Force grounds trainer jets

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Air Force has grounded the rest of its S-211 trainer jets after one crashed on Thursday in the waters off Bagac, Bataan and killed both military pilots on board.

“All S-211s are grounded,” Air Force spokesperson Lt. Col. Miguel Okol said.

He said they have six remaining S211 trainer aircraft though some are undergoing repair and maintenance check.

Okol said the body of Capt. Raymond De Leon, 30, one of their combat ready pilots, was retrieved on Friday by Coast Guard divers.

The body of Maj. Ephraim Suyom, an instructor pilot, was recovered on Thursday and was identified through an ID card found on him.

A relative of De Leon said the Air Force captain, who was due for promotion this year, was the fourth fatality in the family in recent months. De Leon’s grandfather passed away last week.

An S-211 trainer jet with tail number 020 crashed at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday in the vicinity of the Stella Maris Beach Resort in sitio Look, Barangay Banawang in Bagac, Bataan.

Reports from Bagac policemen and divers said the area where the plane crashed was nine feet deep.

According to the Air Force, the aircraft was on a routine proficiency flight which all military pilots are periodically required to conduct.

“Right now we’re in the process of investigating. Since we have already retrieved the remains, we are now collecting data, we are now collecting the other debris from the site,” he said.

An aircraft accident investigation board headed by the chief of the Air Force Safety Office would conduct the investigation.

“I cannot discuss the details of the investigation, that’s part of the investigation. What we can disclose are the facts that we have on hand,” Okol said.

The Philippines Air Force has condoled with the families of the two fighter pilots.

Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena has assured a “thorough investigation” and promised to look after the needs of the departed pilots’ families.

Police said residents and some people swimming in the beach of Barangay Banawang saw the plane circling the area before it crashed.

Miguel Cordikar, 71, said he saw the plane explode before it hit the water. With a report from Greg Refraccion, Inquirer Central Luzon