SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines – Four people were killed after a Baron fixed wing light airplane that was conducting cloud seeding operations crashed in a cornfield in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya at noon yesterday.
Senior Superintendent Valfrie Tabian, Nueva Vizcaya police director, identified the fatalities as Philip Jubane, the pilot, and passengers Leilani Naga, Christopher Evan Borja and Melvin Simangan, all employees of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management of the Department of Agriculture.
The plane, with registered number RP C1974, was rented by SN Aboitiz Power to conduct cloud seeding operation over the watershed areas of Nueva Vizcaya and Ifugao to induce rains for the Magat Dam located along the border of the two provinces.
A Filipino-Norwegian Consortium, SN Aboitiz owns and operates the power component of Magat Dam.
Chief Inspector Chevalier Iringan, Bagabag police chief, said the firm decided to start seeding operations since the water level of the Magat dam reservoir is critical.
The crash took place near the Bagabag airstrip where the plane was believed to be attempting to land, police said. – With Raymund Catindig