3 US tourists, Pinoy survive plane crash

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Three American tourists, who wanted an aerial view of the Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan, and their Filipino tour guide survived when their plane crashed in Sto. Tomas, La Union Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Chief Insp. Robert Mesa, Sto. Tomas police chief, identified the three Americans as Edward and Mark, both surnamed Stonis, and pilot Warner Wilty, and their tour guide Ma. Leonora Ramos.

Mesa, who led the rescue team, said the group had just taken off from the Poro Point airport here when their four-seater plane (RP-C976) experienced engine trouble.

“The pilot decided to bring (the plane) down on a soft area. Luckily they survived,” he said, adding the small aircraft landed in a muddy ricefield in Barangay Ubagan, Sto. Tomas.

He said the group suffered minor injuries and were brought to a nearby hospital for treatment. – Jerry Padilla