The Philippine Navy reported that one of its choppers crash-landed at the Sangley Point Airport in Cavite City on Thursday morning, leaving its two pilots and three crew members injured.
Navy spokesperson Commander John Percie Alcos said the AgustaWestland AW109 helicopter was conducting a functional check flight after completing its 400-hour scheduled maintenance inspection.
The aircraft was already in its third sortie when it crashed while attempting to land. All five people onboard sustained minor injuries.
Alcos said a thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. He said the probe “would revolve around checks and maintenance activities” performed on the aircraft.
In a press statement, the Navy confirmed that naval helicopter NH432 was involved in the incident during a training and maintenance flight activity. The crash occurred at approximately 10:18 a.m.
“Emergency response teams, including fire and medical personnel, were immediately deployed to the scene. No casualties were reported, and all personnel onboard, though with minor injuries, were conscious and safely transported to the 15th Strike Wing Hospital for medical evaluation,” it said.
The Navy noted that “all similar aircraft will be temporarily grounded” amid the ongoing investigation.
“Rest assured that the Philippine Navy is committed to maintaining high standards of operational safety and will use the findings to improve our procedures moving forward.”