Lita Velasco, 37, was tending her sari-sari store in Las Piñas when she saw a low-flying airplane heading towards her house on Saturday.

The first thing that entered her mind was to get her two children, who were inside the house which was 100 meters behind her store, out of harm's way.

“Lumabas kayo ng bahay! May pabagsak na eroplano!” Velasco shouted hysterically as she sprinted towards her house.

Velasco had just grabbed her two kids when a loud crash was heard outside the house. This was followed by a very loud explosion.

With her kids safe, Velasco stepped outside her house and saw the debris of the World War II vintage cargo plane that had crashed into the garage adjacent to her house. It was being engulfed by huge flames.

“Ang laking takot ko nung nakita ko gumegewang yung eroplano pababa sa bahay namin," Velasco said. "Kaya tumakbo agad ako papunta sa bahay para kunin yung mga anak ko. Mabuti na lang at doon sa garahe tumama yung eroplano,” Velasco added.

According to Velasco, she saw the aircraft banking from left to right in an obvious attempt by the pilot to look for a safe place to ditch the plane.

“Mabuti na lang at iniwas nung piloto yung eroplano niya sa mga kabahayan. Kung sakaling nalihis siya ng ilang metro pa ay siguradong marami ang mamamatay dito,” Velasco added.

“Malaking pasalamat namin sa pilot, kung sino man siya. Ibinuwis niya and buhay niya pati ng kanyang mga pasahero para sa mga nakakarami,” Velasco said. (Anjo Perez)