Training aircraft crash lands in Tarlac; pilot, trainee rescued

MANILA — A training plane carrying a pilot and his student on Sunday crash landed in Comillas town, Tarlac over apparent engine failure, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Saturday.

Pilot Capt. Irineo Manguba and student pilot Jeny Jerome, an Indian national, survived the crash and were brought to hospital.

CAAP said the Cessna 172 aircraft of Alpha Aviation took off at the Clark airport at 7:29 a.m. and sought an emergency landing around 9:44 a.m., citing "engine failure."

After being cleared for emergency landing at the Pampanga airport, no communication was heard from the aircraft, CAAP said. The plane had apparently crash landed in Tarlac.

Manguba managed to reach the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and asked for rescue after the crash.

CAAP already dispatched an investigation team to the crash site.