SEVEN were injured when a light plane on a test flight crashed in the waters off Iba, Zambales yesterday.
Col. Fitz Macariola, Zambales Police Provincial Director, identified the injured as Captain Mel Bidayan, the pilot in command; and Captains Florencio Ruiz, Jamel Reamon, Albrench Sagario, Carmelita Bidayan, Ian Vincent Agdamag, and Robin Austria.
The seven pilots are all based at the Subic Bay Freeport Port Zone- Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Airport in Olongapo City.Macariola said the seven pilots were riding the Rockwell Commander 685 or Aero Commander 685 aircraft operated by Sentinel Logistic Air Management, which was on a test flight, when it ditched 500 meters away from the shoreline at Purok 3 in Bgy. Sto. Rosario at 7:10 a.m. yesterday.
Fishermen and members of the Philippine Coast Guard rushed to the site and rescued the seven.The injured pilots were brought to President Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Hospital for treatment. An investigation is ongoing on what caused the crash.
