Investigators stand next to the remains of a bell 429 helicopter, whose passengers were ranking national police generals including the chief of the national police General Archie Gamboa, after it crashed seconds after taking off in San Pedro town, Laguna province, south of Manila on March 5, 2020. According to press reports, all the passengers were brought to the nearest hospital for treatment. (DANTE PERALTA / AFP)

MANILA — Seven people including Philippine National Police Chief General Archie Gamboa and four other police officers were injured after a police helicopter crashed on Thursday during take-off in Laguna province, south of Manila.

In this Oct 14, 2019, file photo provided by Philippine National Police Public Information Office, Archie Gamboa salutes during the flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. (PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE VIA AP)

General Gamboa is conscious. One of the passengers was unconscious and one was injured in the head 

Edgar Miguel, Philippine Police emergency responder

Police emergency responder Captain Edgar Miguel said Gamboa and the rest of the four passengers and the two pilots were injured. They were all taken to a nearby hospital, he added.

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"General Gamboa is conscious. One of the passengers was unconscious and one was injured in the head," Miguel said.

Miguel said the engine of the chopper caught fire shortly after take-off before crashing into a small road.

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The cause of the crash is still unknown.