Four crew killed as Philippine air force helicopter crashes
16 September 2020, 14:44
The helicopter crashed in rainy conditions.
A Philippine air force helicopter on its way to airlift troops wounded in a recent suicide bombing has crashed killing all four crew members on board, officials have said.
The Sikorsky S-76A took off from southern Zamboanga city for a flight to nearby Sulu province and crashed in rainy weather in the hilly village of Upper Manggas on Basilan island, the air force and police said.
The two pilots and two other crew members were killed.
They were bound for Jolo town to airlift troops who were wounded in two August 24 bombings blamed on Abu Sayyaf militants.
The bombings killed 15 people, including soldiers, along with two suspected female militants, and wounded more than 70 soldiers, policemen and civilians.
Officials were investigating the cause of the crash and other Sikorsky helicopters were grounded for safety checks while the investigation is under way.
