PAF grounds five remaining SoKol choppers after Tarlac mishap

November 23, 2018

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) grounded its five remaining Sokol helicopters following last Thursday’s crash at Crow Valley in Capas, Tarlac, its spokesman said Friday.

The mishap was the third involving the Polish-made double engine helicopters, which the government acquired during the time of then President and  now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Major Aristides Galang said this is standard operating procedure by the Philippine  Air Force while it investigates the matter,

Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman, said most of the injured eight passengers, including House Deputy Minority Leader Anthony Bravo and some members of the congressional staff, have been sent home.

“Most of the passengers, except for two who still are required to undergo C-Scan for minor injuries to the head, have been driven home, to include Rep. Bravo after being treated for minor injuries,” Arevalo said.

The pilot in command, his co-pilot and four crew members are confined at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center in Quezon City.

Arevalo said the air mishap occurred while the one of the Sokol helicopters was on its final approach at a designated landing site at at Sitio Durunganan, Barangay Sta. Juliana, Capas town at around 2 p.m.

Senator Ralph Recto, who was aboard another Sokol helicopter, were flying to Crow Valley for the air capability demonstration of the PAF’s FA50s. DMS