This handout photo from the Guimba Police Station in Guimba, Nueva Ecija shows retrieval efforts at the site where a helicopter crashed on Feb.1, 2025.

NUEVA ECIJA (UPDATED) — A female pilot was found dead after a helicopter crash in Sitio Arimung-mong in Barangay San Miguel, Guimba, Nueva Ecija, around 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Police Lt. Col. George Calauad Jr., station commander of the Guimba Police Station, said the barangay captain alerted them about a light helicopter that had crashed into a swamp within a rice field.

“Nung narinig nila yung impact ng bagsak ng aircraft, tumawag sila agad sa police station. Rumesponde naman agad ang mga pulis doon after siguro ng mga 30 minutes,” Police Lt. Col. Calauad said.

(When they heard the impact of the aircraft they called the police station.  Police were at the crash site in around 30 minutes)

FIRST RESPONDERS TRIED TO REVIVE PILOT

Residents assisted authorities in retrieving the pilot’s body from the helicopter with tail number RP-C3424.

George Lutao, 59, a fisherman and farmer, said he was checking a rice field when he heard the crash.

He sustained wounds on his right foot while helping to recover the body, which was submerged in around seven feet of water.

“Nahawakan ko siya, mainit pa siya… nakaupo po siya doon sa helicopter… nung ilalabas hindi ko kaya kasi meron pa palang seatbelt,” Lutao said.

(She was still warm. She was sitting in the helicopter. I couldn't pull her out because of the seatbelt)

Using a sharp object, he cut the seatbelt to free the victim.

Police Cpl. Raymark Duque, one of the responders from the Nueva Ecija PPO, said the pilot showed no signs of life.

“Paglabas po ng biktima doon sa tubig, agad-agad ko po itong nilapatan ng paunang lunas. Ni-revive ko po siya. Kinalulungkot ko po na wala na po. Ginawa ko naman po lahat,” Duque said.

(When we retrieved the victim from the water, I provided first aid. I tried to revive her. Sadly, she was gone. I did all I could)

Calauad confirmed TV host Willie Revillame passed through the area after the crash.

“Ang pagkakaalam ko po, sila ay magkaibigan so nagkataon po yung senatorial candidate Willie Revillame kaya napadaan po siya dito.”

(From what I know, they are friends, so senatorial candidate Willie Revillame came through here) 

CAAP PROBE UNDERWAY

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed the incident on Saturday and said an investigation was underway.

CAAP said Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB) lead investigator (Ret.) Rhomel Ronda was sent to the crash site to determine the cause of the incident.

According to CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio, the helicopter departed from Baguio in the morning to transport a passenger before stopping in Binalonan, Pangasinan, to refuel at around 12:40 p.m.

“May service record lahat ng aircraft na registered sa Pilipinas. May mga safety check ‘yan kaya isa yan sa pagtutuunan ng pansin, kung ano yung last record ng isang helicopter,” said Apolonio in Teleradyo Serbisyo.

(Each aircraft in the Philippines has a service record. That includes safety checks, so we also look into that because that would be the latest record for the helicopter)

According to a CAAP advisory on Sunday morning, Binalonan Airport officials noted RP-C3424 had trouble restarting its engine before it took off at 4:30 p.m.

"The Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center detected six emergency locator transmitter (ELT) alerts between 7:04 p.m. and 7:14 p.m.," CAAP also said.

NO BAD WEATHER

According to PAGASA, there was no significant rainfall in Nueva Ecija at the time of the incident.

"In terms of hangin lalo na’t nasa amihan episode po tayo ay hindi naman po ganun kalakasan yung hangin na na-experience natin sa loob ng… sa mismong kalupaan natin, OK naman po ang panahon, weather natin," PAGASA weather forecaster Lorie Dela Cruz said on Teleradyo Serbisyo.

The pilot's remains have been claimed by her family, according to CAAP and the Guimba police.