Consulate officials visit couple injured in Asiana plane crash

Officials of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco visited on July 9 retired couple Ruben and Belen Vallero, passengers of the Asiana Airlines flight 214, at the Stanford Medical Center today to check on their conditions.

Mr. and Mrs. Vallero told Deputy Consul General Jaime Ramon Ascalon and Assistance to Nationals Head Rey Sambitan that they were fortunate to have survived the crash. They sustained less serious injuries, contrary to initial reports that they are in critical condition. They were discharged from the hospital on July 11.

The other identified Filipino Americans, Maricel Anino Knaus and her two sons, Gabriel and George, already left their hotel and are said to be on their way to their home in Fort Collins, Colorado. Maricel and her sons suffered minor injuries.

The consulate continues to coordinate with the government and Asiana Airlines officials to determine if other FilAms were in the said flight.

The Boeing 777 aircraft crashlanded at the San Francisco International Airport July 7 resulting in a broken tail. Two passengers were killed and more than 180 others were reported injured, including the Valleros.