By Joseph Jubelag
LAMBAYONG, Sultan Kudarat - A pilot narrowly escaped death after a spray plane he was piloting crashed on Saturday while conducting aerial spraying on a banana plantation in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat.
P/Major Herman Luna, Lambayong police chief, said Captain Videl Arquiza, 28, pilot of Pacific Aerial Spraying Services based in Davao City was able to jump out from the aircraft before it crashed into the banana plantation owned by Delinanas Development Co. in Barangay Zeneben, Lambayong town around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Police said the aircraft developed engine trouble shortly after it took off while doing rounds of aerial spraying.
Police are closely coordinating with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to conduct an in-depth investigation of the incident.