Philippine Aircraft Crash: Two Philippine Air Force trainer aircraft crashed during a training flight at an air base south of Manila on Saturday. All four pilots on board the two aircraft have been killed in the incident The Air Force has temporarily grounded its SF-260 trainer aircraft while an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.
How Did The Crash Happen?
According to Reuters, the incident took place at Fernando Air Base in Batangas province and involved two SF-260 trainer aircraft flying during a training exercise. Philippine Air Force spokesman Colonel Alvin Capinguian stated that both aircraft came down within the boundaries of the air base. He added that no other casualties were reported as both aircraft crashed within the air base premises.
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Video Shows Aircraft Colliding
A video of the crash has emerged online showing the two aircraft flying dangerously close to each other before colliding in mid-air. The footage appears to show both planes losing control and spiralling towards the ground before crashing and releasing thick white smoke.
SF-260 Fleet Grounded
While the exact cause of the accident has not yet been confirmed by the military, local media reports have suggested that the aircraft collided mid-air. Investigators are working to establish what led to the crash. Following the incident, the Philippine Air Force has temporarily grounded its fleet of SF-260 trainer aircraft as a precaution. The decision will remain in place pending an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Previous Deadly Crashes
This is not the first reported crash involving a SF-260 aircraft. According to Reuters, in May, two military pilots were killed when an SF-260 aircraft crashed in a mountainous area in Benguet province in the northern Philippines during a training flight. Another SF-260 TP Marchetti aircraft had crashed during a training flight in 2023, killing two pilots. The latest crash has once again raised concerns over the safety of military training flights.
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