3 men cheat death in Isabela plane crash

By Charlie Lagasca

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya– An Afghan national and two others narrowly cheated death when their light aircraft crashed on a runway in Isabela’s coastal Maconacon town Tuesday morning.

Reports said Reynald Taquiqui, 56, pilot of the Cessna passenger-cum-trainer plane that crashed into the municipal runway and his two passengers, Farid Hotak Maeda, 28, said to be a student pilot from Afghanistan; and Joseph Vergara, an aircraft mechanic, sustained only minor injuries.

Police said the pilot lost control when the plane’s front wheels malfunctioned while taxiing on the runway, causing the aircraft to swerve until it overturned.

Other sources, however, said the crash was caused by a strong tail wind, which hit the plane just after it landed.

Police said the plane took off from Isabela’s Cauayan City airport at around 9:36 a.m. that day for a short flight to and from Maconacon.

The plane is being operated by the Cauayan City-based Cyclone Airlines and Flying School owned by Bong Camposagrado.