Speaking from my experience (of flying) in the Phils:-
The Philippine press, IMHO, outdoes that of most other countries wrt the "sensationalism" aspect - believe it or not! eg., "
a "flying coffin" owned by a debt-ridden airline with a shocking safety record", and hence only adding to the grief of the relatives and friends of those bereaved.
Although corrupt, the Ministry Of Transport (MOT) in Manila is an ICAO recognised body (I was there during the period they were being checked by the US Inspectors), and as such ENSURES that operators maintain a standard in accordance with ICAO.
Enter the pollies - Ms Imee Marcos, and Mr Roque ("The Dust") Ablan.
It is common knowledge in the Philippines that the Marcos family has a finger in most pies - including airlines. Ever heard of "
Grand Air", or how about the "Grand Hotel"?
Grand Air operated a fleet of B737's when I was there, crewed by pilots who drove their pax from the pickup point at the Grand Hotel.
It is rumoured that ANY business in the Phils containing the word "grand", is Marcos owned.
And so on to Senator Ablan - "Rocky", or "The Dust" (because of his apparent abilty to vaporise whenever the police were involved).
A licensed pilot!!!
You would HAVE to be joking....but then again this IS the Philippines.
"Rocky" would
have to be nudging 70 (and I'm being kind here).
However he IS (or was, back when I met him) a very switched-on gentleman, who NEVER let an opportunity to make money pass. He picked up an
easy USD10K from the Aussie who ran a 737 for
Air Philippines during their start up, just to utilise an ACOC he held (for lighties only).
He later ALSO became involved in an airline company running punters (under
HIS ACOC, but now approved for RPT) from other parts of Asia to
LAOAG!!
Surprise, Surprise!!
The "fact" that "
the pilot, captain Bernie Crisostomo, made a distress call moments after take-off, reporting engine trouble and saying he would attempt an emergency landing on a public boulevard on reclaimed land in Manila Bay." is yet to be confirmed. There should be no reason to doubt that an F27 on one donk SHOULD have been able to make it back to Manila International Airport (MIA) - assuming full power was available on the remaining engine.
Unfortunately, "vested interests" and a senasationalistic press have not made this tragedy any easier for the remaining relatives.
I'm sure that the flight crew - like any other professional flight crew anywhere in the world - did their best under the circumstances.
That the aircraft WERE maintained, under the MOT, according to
ICAO standards (otherwise why didn't Ms Marcos, and Senator Ablan pursue it earlier?).
And finally, that the Australian families of the guys who lost their lives, DON'T believe the bs published by the sensationistic Philippine press, but rather trust that the common sense of their sons' would have dictated whether THEY had decided which was the safest mode of transport.