Air Force plane crashes in Benguet forest; 2 personnel found unconscious

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – A Philippine Air Force aircraft crashed in a forested area in Sitio Cabuyao, Poblacion, Tuba, Benguet on Wednesday morning, May 20, leaving two military personnel unconscious, authorities said.

The aircraft, described by responders as a gray, white, and orange fixed-wing plane bearing the Philippine Air Force logo and plane number “10-39,” was reportedly found within a wooded portion of Mount Cabuyao.

Police identified one of the occupants as 1st Lieutenant Ruth Angelique R. Pasos of the Philippine Air Force. The second occupant was initially described as an unidentified uniformed male individual.

According to the initial police report, the incident reportedly occurred at around 10:20 am but was only reported to authorities at about 11:40 am after the barangay captain of Poblacion, Tuba contacted the Tuba Municipal Police Station (MPS).

Responding personnel from the Tuba MPS, Bureau of Fire Protection, Tuba Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), Baguio City Police Office Station 10, and local volunteers immediately proceeded to the crash site to conduct search, rescue, and retrieval operations.

Authorities said both occupants were found unconscious upon responders’ arrival. As of posting time, officials had yet to release information on their condition or the possible cause of the crash.

Benguet Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay president Oliver Paus, who also serves as punong barangay of Poblacion, Tuba, earlier confirmed that emergency responders were conducting ongoing rescue and retrieval operations in the area.

The Philippine Air Force and other concerned agencies have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, as of writing. – Rappler.com