by Martin Sadongdong
The crashed SIAI-Marchetti SF260-TP training aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) was on its way back to its base in Sangley Point, Cavite City when it met the accident that killed its two pilots onboard.
This was the result of the initial investigation conducted by the PAF on the SF260-TP training aircraft that crashed on a ricefield in Pilar, Bataan on Wednesday, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said on Thursday, Jan. 26.
According to Castillo, the plane was detected by the Manila Control Tower moments before it crashed as it managed to send a transmission that they were already headed back to their base.
“Manila approach ‘yong path ng ating aircraft mula sa Bataan pabalik sa Sangley Air Base. Ang nabalitaan natin, nagkaroon ng transmission na pabalik na sana sila sa base at natapos na ang training flight (The path of our aircraft was Manila approach from Bataan to Sangley Air Base. What we have learned is that there was a transmission that they were already enroute to their base after finishing the training flight,” Castillo said in a radio interview with dzBB.
The two fallen pilots onboard were on a recurrency training flight from Sangely Point, Cavite City to Bataan to enhance their proficiency in flying PAF planes. Their bodies were already recovered and brought back to the PAF headquarters in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City on Wednesday night.
Castillo said all the transmissions made by the aircraft were also being cross-checked with their Surface-to-Air Python and Derby (SPYDER) Medium Range Ground-Based Air Defense System (GBADS) which tracked the military plane.
What caused the crash remains a mystery to investigators as they try to connect the pieces of evidence they gathered on the crash site to get the whole picture.
“Investigation is ongoing. It’s going to be a very thorough and extensive investigation. We’re going to look at all angles,” she noted.
Among the angles being considered as the possible cause of the crash is bad weather.
“Minsan kahit clear ang skies hindi natin masabi kung hindi maganda ang hangin at biglang may clouds na nagbu-build up (Sometimes even if the skies are clear, we cannot really say if the wind is calm and there are sudden cloud formations that are building up),” she said.
“We cannot rule out anything right now, we can only pinpoint the reason after the investigation,” she noted.
Ejection system
Castillo also revealed that the aircraft was not equipped with an ejection system although the pilots were equipped with a parachute so they could get out of the plane in case of an emergency.
“Pero ang SOP [standard operating procedure] kasi natin is to lead the aircraft to a safe and clear landing zone bago maglast resort na mageject (But our SOP is to lead the aircraft to a safe and clear landing zone before you make a last resort to ejection),” she explained.
“Sa long history ng air force, wala pa pong nagattempt na magbailout during an emergency. Trained kasi kami na kapag ganitong mga situation that would warrant an emergency landing, we really have to make sure that the aircraft would land on a clear space para walang maapektuhan (In the long history of the air force, there was nobody who attempted to bail out during an emergency. We are trained that during these situations that would warrant an emergency landing, we really have to make sure that the aircraft would land on a clear space so that no civilian would get hurt),” she added.
The PAF spokesperson said the SF260TP aircraft first came in the fleet in 1992. To date, there are three remaining active SF260TP in the PAF inventory but all of them were grounded after the incident.
DND, AFP mourning
Following the accident, the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AF) said they were grieving the death of the two PAF pilots as they offered condolences to the bereaved families of the fatalities.
“The Department of National Defense offers its deepest sympathies and sincerest condolences to the bereaved families of the Philippine Air Force Pilots who perished in the SF260-TP aircraft mishap in Pilar, Bataan,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.
“All SF260 are now grounded while the investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances behind the incident and for the safety of our airmen,” AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar stated.
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