Two military personnel died on Thursday after a training helicopter from the Philippine Navy crashed near Cavite City, south of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. A PN Robinson R22 training helicopter conducted an emergency landing close to the Cavite market area. The two aircrew members were rushed to a hospital for urgent treatment but succumbed to their injuries, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Francel Margerth Padilla.
The police confirmed that the deceased were 36 and 27 years old. Authorities are conducting a formal investigation to determine the cause of the incident, as reported by the Filipino news portal Inquirer. The incident has drawn scrutiny over the safety protocols surrounding military training operations and the maintenance practices safeguarding aircraft readiness.
The Navy clarified that the helicopter departed from Sangley Airport early in the morning to perform a training flight. The crash occurred around 6:00 local time. Navy officials emphasized that Navy aircraft undergo routine inspections and maintenance to ensure airworthiness while promising a thorough review to prevent a recurrence of this type of accident. They noted that no stone will be left unturned as investigators work to understand what happened and to implement any necessary safeguards going forward.