What happened
On November 11, 2002, Laoag International Airlines operated a scheduled domestic service connecting Manila to Basco, with a stopover in Laoag. The aircraft involved was a Fokker F-27 Friendship. During the initial phase of the flight from Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the plane failed to gain sufficient altitude and subsequently crashed into Manila Bay immediately after leaving the runway.
Investigation
The incident resulted in significant loss of life among those on board. A total of 34 individuals, comprising both passengers and crew members, were present on the aircraft at the time of the crash. Rescue operations recovered survivors from the water, with 15 people surviving the accident. The remaining occupants did not survive the impact or subsequent events.
Findings
The crash occurred during the takeoff phase of the flight. The specific mechanical or operational causes leading to the inability to climb were determined through official inquiry, though the immediate outcome was the loss of 19 lives out of the 34 on board.