DAVAO CITY (November 7) — The remains of six Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel who perished in a helicopter crash during a relief mission in Agusan del Sur have arrived in Davao City for autopsy and identification.
The PAF Super Huey went down on Tuesday, November 4, while flying humanitarian supplies to storm-hit communities affected by Severe Tropical Storm Tino (international name: Kalmaegi). The aircraft had taken off from the Tactical Operations Group 11 headquarters in Davao City and was bound for Butuan when it lost contact around noon.
Search and rescue teams later found the wreckage in Barangay Sabud, Loreto, where residents reported seeing the chopper in flames. All six onboard—commissioned and enlisted personnel—were confirmed dead. Their names are being withheld pending notification of their families.
“This tragedy reminds us of the risks our airmen face every day to save lives,” said Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) in a statement, assuring that humanitarian and disaster response operations in the Caraga Region will continue despite the loss.
The ill-fated mission was part of a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) deployment following the devastation of Tino. The typhoon has claimed more than 80 lives nationwide, triggering landslides, flooding, and mass evacuations across Mindanao and the Visayas.
Office of Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Harold Cabreros paid tribute to the fallen airmen, describing them as “selfless heroes who served with courage and commitment.”
An official investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
