Female pilot dies in Nueva Ecija helicopter crash

MANILA, Philippines — A female pilot died after her helicopter crashed into a creek in Barangay San Miguel, Guimba town in Nueva Ecija on Saturday afternoon.

In his report, Guimba police chief Lt. Col. George Calaud Jr. identified the fatality as Julia Flori Monzon Po, a resident of C-305 Marina Bay Homes, Asia World, Parañaque.

Initial investigation showed that the Robinson R44 light helicopter with body number RP-C3424, operated by Lion Air Inc., crashed around 5 p.m. in a swampy area in Barangay San Miguel.

The victim was wearing sports gear and jogging pants when rescuers recovered her body, said Calaud, noting that the victim was alone when the rescuers arrived in the area.

Responding personnel of the Guimba police station recovered the victim’s body from the wreckage of the helicopter.

The victim, who was reportedly the pilot of senatorial candidate Willie Revillame, was en route to Manila from Baguio City when her helicopter crashed, according to the report.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is probing the crash.

Binalonan Airport officials noted that the aircraft experienced difficulty restarting its engine before departing at 4:30 p.m.

The Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center had detected six emergency locator transmitter alerts between 7:04 p.m. and 7:14 p.m. — Rudy Santos