AN AW109 multi-purpose helicopter of the Philippine Navy was damaged recently after it figured in a mishap during landing in Cagayan province, Navy chief Vice Adm. Adeluis Bordado said yesterday.
“The pilots and crew sustained very minor injuries and only stayed in a medical facility as a matter of medical procedure,” Bordado said, referring to the two pilots and two crew members.
The Navy’s four other AW109 helicopters are grounded “as a matter of procedure” pending the conduct of the investigation, he also said.
The Navy’s five AW109 helicopters delivered by AgustaWestland, an Italian aircraft manufacturer, in 2013 and 2014. They were acquired for P1.33 billion through the AFP’s modernization program.
Bordado said the incident occurred at around 2 a.m on September 26 in Lal-lo town “when the aircraft was attempting to land on its designated station after it returned from a mission in support of Northern Luzon Command’s internal security operations.”
Navy spokesman Cdr. Benjo Negranza said the aircraft’s propeller was damaged.
Bordado said the Navy is still determining the extent of the damage, in coordination with AgustaWestland.
