Philippine Air Force training plane crashes in Tarlac, pilots unhurt

An Philippine Air Force training craft crashed in Tarlac Monday morning, but its pilot and co-pilot were unhurt, the Philippine Air Force said.

In a text message sent to reporters, Philippine Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Miguel Okol said the AS-211 training aircraft with tail number 024 crashed at the vicinity of the Intensive Military Training Area 1, in Santiago, Conception, Tarlac at 11:08 a.m. Monday.

“The aircraft impacted a sugar cane field and did not pose any danger to lives or property,” Okol said.

The pilot and co-pilot, Major Wilfredo Donato and First Lieutenant Jose Wilbert Leonides Martinez respectively, were unhurt as they were able to eject themselves from the aircraft prior to the crash and landed safely.

The two pilots were airlifted to Clark Airbase at around 11:45 a.m., and are undergoing routine medical check-up at the Air Force City hospital, the military spokesman added.

General Oscar Rabena, Air Force Commander Lieutenant, has ordered the creation of an investigation team to determine the cause of the accident, Okol said.

All AS-211 aircrafts will remain grounded pending the results of investigation, Okol said.