FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Laoag Air Fokker 27 with 29 people crashes in Manilla

Nov 11, 2002 | 1:48 am

#4

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http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/...308621861.html

Quite detailed report:

An Australian survivor of a plane crash in the Philippines which has killed up to 10 people told today of seeing smoke from a engine before passengers were warned to brace for impact.

Six Australians were among 34 people aboard the domestic flight which failed to gain altitude after takeoff and crashed into Manila Bay early today, officials said.

Up to 15 survivors were plucked from the water after the Fokker aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff for the northern Philippine city of Laoag.

The plane broke in two and sank in about eight to 10 metres of water, where divers searched for those still missing.

The dead comprised four children and a 50-year-old man, according to an initial official listing of the casualties at the rescue site, Agence France Presse reported. Other agencies said the death toll was three.

One of the survivors, 25-year-old Steve Thompson of Australia, told radio stations that he saw smoke coming from the left side of the plane just before the pilot came on the intercom to tell passengers to brace for impact.

He said he and five other Australians were heading to the northern Philippine city of Laoag for vacation.

Joggers who were running along the bay said the plane sounded like it was having engine trouble as it tried to gain altitude before plunging into the water.

Adelberto Yap, chief of air transportation for the Philippines, said the Laoag International Airlines plane broke up on impact. Only small debris, including at least one seat, was strewn on the surface. A floating crane was being brought to the scene in an attempt to raise the wreckage. A navy commander at the site said divers were having trouble because conditions were so murky.

"After going airborne, it ditched," Yap said. "We don't know if it lost power. It looks like the one wing was up in the water."

Adm. Ruben Lista, commander of the coast guard, said three bodies had been recovered. A navy diver said he found the body of a boy still strapped in his seat in the wreckage.

Yap said the Fokker 27 was carrying 29 passengers and a crew of five when it took off at 6:07 a.m. (0907 AEDT) on a regularly scheduled flight to Laoag, about an hour's trip from Manila.

The airline's other four Fokker 27 planes were grounded as a precaution, Yap said.

etc

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