MANILA, Philippines (7th UPDATE) – Two people were killed and 4 others were injured when a private plane, a six-seater Piper Aztec, crashed at Camp John Hay in Baguio City on Sunday.
There were conflicting reports on the number of fatalities. Local police initially said there were 4 fatalities before announcing that there was only 1 confirmed death.
Lieutenant Rolando Rengel of the Tactical Operations Group-1 of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) later told ANC that there were 2 confirmed deaths.
The names of the victims are being withheld as their families have yet to be informed.
The twin-engine light aircraft, operated by Techno Air, left the Loakan Airport at around 2:48 p.m.
It was supposed to fly to Plaridel, Bulacan. Two minutes after its take-off, the air traffic controller lost signal from the aircraft.
ABS-CBN Northern Luzon correspondent Dhobie de Guzman was near the site when the incident happened.
He said the injured passengers were rushed to the Baguio General Hospital. The so-called pony boys working in the area were first to respond to the victims.
Many onlookers were able to witness the plane explode near the horse trail, which serves as a picnic area in the park. They saw the plane caught fire before plunging into the trees.
Rengel said investigators have yet to determine the cause of the crash.
