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Four pilots serving with the Philippine Air Force have lost their lives following an accident involving two military training aircraft at an air base south of Manila.
The crash occurred on Friday afternoon, October 23, at Fernando Air Base in Batangas province, where the two SF-260 aircraft were participating in a training exercise. The military confirmed the deaths on Saturday.
According to the Air Force, both aircraft came down within the boundaries of the base. No other casualties were reported in connection with the incident.
Although local media reports indicated that the planes collided in mid-air before crashing, the military has yet to establish the precise circumstances that led to the accident.
In response to the tragedy, the Philippine Air Force ordered the temporary grounding of its entire fleet of SF-260 aircraft as a precautionary measure. An investigation has also commenced to determine what went wrong during the training operation.
The military expressed condolences to the families of the deceased personnel and said arrangements were being made to provide them with the necessary support. It also appealed to the public to respect the families’ privacy as they mourn their loved ones.
The latest tragedy adds to a series of fatal accidents involving Philippine military aircraft in recent years. In May, two military pilots died when an SF-260 aircraft crashed during a training flight in Benguet province in the northern part of the country.
Authorities are expected to establish the cause of Friday’s accident as investigations continue.
