FEMALE PILOT DIES IN NUEVA ECIJA CHOPPER CRASH

BY KEVIN GALANG

A FEMALE pilot on Saturday died when the helicopter she was flying crashed in Guimba, Nueva Ecija police said Sunday.

A report to Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo by the Nueva Ecija police identified the fatality as Julia Flori Po, 25, of Marina Bay Homes, Asia World, Parañaque City.

Po was later confirmed as a pilot of television host and senatorial candidate Willie Revillame.

At 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, the tv host  flew to Guimba and visited the female pilot remains at HM Mina Funeral Parlor in Bgy. Pacac, where she was brought.

The female pilot’s body was moved out of the funeral parlorand transported to Heritage Park in Taguig City, Metro Manila at 12 midnight Saturday.  

Initial probe showed that the light helicopter bearing body number RP-C3424 crashed into a swampy area in Bgy. San Miguel in Guimba town.

The victim’s body was retrieved from the wreckage by responding personnel of the Guimba Police Station.

CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said based on initial reports, the helicopter departed Manila at 10:22 a.m. on February 1, 2025 (Saturday) en route to Baguio, where it dropped off a passenger.

The chopper took off from Baguio at 11:51 a.m. for Binalonan for refueling and landed at 12:05 p.m. on the same day.

Airport officials in Binalonan  noted that the aircraft experienced difficulty restarting its engine before departing at 4:30 p.m.

Authorities later learned that a helicopter crashed in in Purok Arimungmong in Bgy. San Miguel.

The cause of the crash is yet to be determined.

Investigations are underway. 

Recovery operations are ongoing as of press time to locate any other potential survivor,  additional casualties, or debris from the site.

Police is also coordinating with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for further inquiries and technical investigation. 

Continuous monitoring and security measures are in place to facilitate recovery and prevent unauthorized access at the crash site.