A military helicopter meant to deliver humanitarian aid to Typhoon "Tino" victims crashed on Tuesday, November 4, in the vicinity of Loreto town, Agusan del Sur, confirmed the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom).

RH 52 Edniel Parrosa reported that five passengers were on the aircraft. According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the five consisted of two commissioned officers and three enlisted officers. The Philippine Air Force (PAF) affirmed the number of passengers but did not disclose their identities.

The chopper, Super Huey, was en route to Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 10 in Butuan City, to carry out Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) missions in the area under the TOG 10’s jurisdiction, said the EastMinCom in a statement.

Super Huey is just one of five military choppers deployed from Davao to Butuan to conduct Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA), or monitor the extent of the typhoon’s impact on the area, according to Parrosa.

EastMinCom is currently conducting rescue and recovery operations for the personnel involved in the crash, and is working in close collaboration with emergency response teams in the area.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and PNP have also joined in the search and are investigating the cause of the crash. Bodies have been found but have not been identified.