Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated that the flight was operated by Lion Air, an Indonesian carrier. The story has now been corrected to reflect that the aircraft is owned by Lionair Inc, a private aircraft rental firm based in the Philippines.
A Canadian citizen was on board a private plane that exploded during takeoff, killing all eight on board, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has confirmed.
“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the Canadian who died in a plane crash in the Philippines,” a GAC spokesperson told Global News in an email. “We offer them our deepest condolences.”
GAC did not identify the Canadian or provide further details citing privacy reasons, but said the agency was providing consular services to the victim’s family.
Ed Monreal, general manager of Manila International Airport Authority, told reporters in a press conference the crash happened at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s runway 24, and that the plane was a IAI 1124A Westwind II bound for Haneda, Japan.
Monreal said all of the eight people on board the plane were killed in the crash.
“We cannot confirm speculations, but it happened, and there are no survivors. It’s really too early to have speculations,” he said.
Deputy director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Donald Mendoza also told reporters at the press conference that the corporate plane was undergoing a medical evacuation.
Mendoza also said that the plane was airworthy prior to its crash, and that its pilot had current licenses.
The accident is Philippine-based charter service Lionair Inc’s second deadly crash within a span of seven months.
According to CNN Philippines, nine people were killed after a medical evacuation plane operated by the charter service crashed in Laguna on Sep. 1.
Philippine Senator Richard J. Gordon posted a tweet confirming that medical and fire teams were on-route to Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 2 to respond to the plane crash.
“8 passengers consisting of a flight medic, nurse, doctor, three flight crew, one patient and its companion were on board,” read Gordon’s tweet.
“The plane caught fire and exploded as it was taking off the NAIA runway 24.”
A tweet from the Philippine Red Cross also confirmed that it was a chartered plane.
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