CAAP: Chopper that crashed in fishpond in Malolos, Bulacan “new,” one of the “modern” types

Businessman Levy Laus, his bodyguard Wilfran Esteban and pilot Everette Coronel were killed after the businessman’s private chopper crashed in a fishpond in Malolos, Bulacan on Thursday, April 25./Bulacan Provincial Police Office/

(Eagle News) — The private chopper that crashed in a fishpond in Malolos, Bulacan on Thursday, April 25, killing three people was new and one of the modern types, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said on Friday, April 26.

In an interview over GMA’s radio dzbb, Eric Apolonio, CAAP spokesperson, said the helicopter, owned by businessman Levy Laus, was only a few years old and was an Airbus.

“Trusted yang Airbus,” he said.

He said so far, the authorities were still looking into why the chopper crashed in Barangay Anilao at 12:47 p.m.

He said since small choppers do not have black boxes or flight data recorders, investigators would have to rely on radio communications, the radar system and towers to explain what went wrong.

“Lahat yan tinitignan natin,” Apolonio said.

According to Apolonio, the chopper piloted by Everette Coronel, had just taken off from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport hangar and was on its way to Pampanga when the incident took place.

Coronel, Laus and his bodyguard Wilfran Esteban were rushed to the Bulacan Medical Center, but the businessman and the pilot were declared dead on arrival.

Esteban, on the other hand, died while medical treatment was being administered.