Two others soldiers killed in the crashed C-130

Miami
August 29, 2008
Story: Two others soldiers killed in the crashed C-130

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) confirmed Friday morning, August 29, 2008 that there are two other soldiers onboard on the C-130 with tail number 4593 that crashed Monday night.

The two soldiers are both from Philippine Army were identified as Corporal Bernie Sabangan of First Ranger regiment and Master Sgt. Remegio Lebres of 3rd infantry Division.

The two soldiers boarded at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, together with the Scout Rangers that will be transported by the C-130 in Davao City. The two soldiers only escorted the portable radio equipment that the Scout Ranger will bring in Davao City, because they will be held accountable for any lost of it.

According to Col. Roy Deveraturda, Chief for Operations of PAF, this was only confirmed Thursday, after the 3rd Infantry Division called their attention.

“There were no manifesto or official list on those who boarded the aircraft in Davao, but they were included in the flight manifesto in Fort Magsaysay,” Deveraturda explained. He further said that the two were only added when the team of scout ranger from Fort Magsaysay is about to leave Monday afternoon. They were not included on the first list that was submitted to the Air Force.

It was only confirmed Wednesday, “Because the point of origin is the one analysing the passengers manifest and the point of origin of these two soldiers is the Fort Magsaysay,” Deveretaurda said.

He added that the two did not even disembark in Davao Airport and will not disembark to any point of destination of the C-130, they have to go back to Manila, then will go in Fort Magsaysay.

Chief of Air Staff Maj. Gen. Jovito Gammad also confirmed that they are not expecting any survivors anymore because of the impact of crashed of the C-130. He also said that the point of impact is about 800-feet in Davao Gulf.

“No one can survive on that kind of impact,” Gammad said.

Meanwhile, the investigation team is only considering two factors that lead to the crashed of C-130. These are the human factor and the material factor.

Gammad and Deveraturda explained that the human factor is not the pilot error alone, this also includes crew, supervisor on the ground, dispatcher of the aircraft, and the air traffic controller that is manning the tower.
On the material factor, these are the engines, controls at the cockpit, and some instruments that would determine the air speed and altitude that the C-130.

The US Navy Seacraft John McDonnel is expected to arrive on Saturday to help the Philippines in searching for the aircraft that crashed in Davao Gulf.

It can determine the location how depth is the aircraft is. It is also equipped with Sight Scan Sonar that can take pictures of the aircraft under the sea so that they can determine how does it looks like.

The C-130 crashed last Monday night, at around 8:53 pm after its take-off and killed its pilot, co-pilot, 7 crew members and 2 army soldiers.

The C-130 is about to go to Iloilo International Airport which is located in Iloilo City to fetched about 80 members of Presidential Security Guard (PSG) who are all bound to Manila.