Two small planes collide in Philippines, 3 dead

MANILA, July 8 (Reuters) Two light planes being used for flight training collided in the air north of the Philippine capital Manila today and crashed in a rice field, killing two students and an instructor, air transport officials said.

Nilo Jatico, head of the local air transport office, said the two planes, both two-seater Cessna 150s, were on their way to land when they collided several km from an airfield in Plaridel town, about 35 km (22 miles) north of Manila.

All three men on the planes, including two Indian student pilots and a Filipino instructor, were killed on the spot.

The airfield in Plaridel is mainly used for training.

REUTERS PD RN1553