A nurse’s dream of working in the United States ended Sunday after a tragic plane crash in Calamba, Laguna.
Kirk Eoin Badiola, a registered nurse, is one of two nurses aboard the King Air 350 medical evacuation plane that exploded mid-air and crashed into a hot spring resort in Barangay Pansol, Calamba.
Badiola’s mother said in an interview over GMA News that her son was just waiting for his visa for deployment in Michigan, USA. A native of Baao, Camarines Sur, he is the eldest among her 3 children.
He and another nurse Yamato Togawa was part of the medical team lead by Dr. Garret Garcia who transported the New Zealander patient Tom Carr and wife Erma.
Based on initial reports, the plane manned by Captain Jesus Hernandez and First Officer Lino Cruz Jr. left Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte at 1:45 p.m. but did not reach its destination in Manila when it crashed around 3 p.m. at Agojo Private Resort located inside Miramonte Subdivision, in Calamba.
A total of 9 persons died in the tragedy. The fatalities were identified as: Captain Jesus Hernandez (pilot), First Officer Lino Cruz Jr. (co-pilot), Dr. Garret Garcia, Kirk Eoin Badiola (nurse), Yamato Togawa (nurse), Ryx Gil Laput, Raymond Bulacja, Tom Carr (patient), and Erma Carr (wife of patient).
Two caretakers of the resort, John Rey and Malou Roca got injured by plane debris and were taken to Jose P. Rizal District Hospital. (Photo by Cabuyao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office)