MANILA, Feb. 21 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it has rescued a student pilot whose Piper Tomahawk aircraft suddenly malfunctioned while in the air on Feb. 19.

The training aircraft, operated by Fliteline Aviation, was forced to make an emergency landing in an open field in Barangay Langlagan, Plaridel, Bulacan, the PNP said in a statement.

The PNP Air Unit, upon receiving a distress call from the aircraft, immediately responded, arriving at the site within minutes to assess the situation and ensure the safety of the two persons inside the aircraft - flight instructor Capt. Valentin Torres III and student pilot David Cabrera.

Both the instructor and the student were unharmed, the PNP said.

"This successful resp...