Kiwis die in Philippines plane crash
New Zealanders Tom Laurence Carr and Erma Carr have died in a plane crash in the Philippines. The couple lived in Ruakaka, just south of Whanga¯ rei.
All nine people on board a small Beechcraft King Air 350 medical evacuation plane were killed when the aircraft crashed into a resort area near Calamba City and exploded in flames, officials said.
It’s understood that Tom Carr was the patient on board, travelling with his wife, along with a pilot, first officer, one doctor, two nurses, and two other people.
The light plane crashed into a resort compound in Pansol village in Laguna province near the foothills of Mount Makiling.
The crash caused a fire that burnt several houses and part of the Agojo Resort.
Two people on the ground were injured and brought to a hospital.
Erma Carr was originally from the Philippines and the family used to take part in some events held by the Whanga¯rei Filipino Society.
Spokesman Neven Osmena said the plane crash was very sad.
Eric Apolonio, a spokesman of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said the light plane was on a medical evacuation flight from southern Dipolog city in Zamboanga del Norte province and disappeared from radar for unknown reasons as it flew over Laguna, about 60km south of the capital.
The plane was supposed to land in Manila.
Videos posted online by witnesses showed flames and black smoke billowing from the private resort compound in Pansol, a district popular for its hot springs and swimming pools.
Firefighters and an ambulance can be seen near the scene of the crash as local officials asked villagers to step back to a safe distance.
The crash happened during the monsoon season, when fewer people visit Pansol’s resorts compared to the hot summer months that ended in June.