Mar Roxas’ convoy chopper crashes

Photo from the official website of the Philippine Navy

MANILA — A Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopter traveling as Interior Secratary Manuel Roxas’ convoy crashed in Marawi City, Thursday afternoon.

The brand new air craft hovered some 50 feet of the ground and made a crash after the pilots experienced some technical problems.

“There was no explosion. All of us are okay except for one who suffered a broken foot,” said Maj. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division who was one of the survivors. Visaya was referring to one of the two pilots whose feet were pinned against the wreckage.

The helicopter had 11 persons on board when it crashed at around 2:30 p.m. at the Kampo Ranao headquarters.

“Two to three minutes after the takeoff, it could no longer go up further. It suddenly veered left until it crashed,” narrated Visayas.

The convoy helicopters were acquired as part of PAF’s modernization program.

Meanwhile, the defense department is now conducting an investigation on the crash.

“An investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of this incident,” the statement read released by the Defense Department read.