WorldPosted at: Oct 24 2026 3:00PM


Four Philippine Air Force pilots killed in trainer aircraft crash

Manila, Oct 24 (UNI) Four Philippine Air Force pilots were killed when two SF-260 trainer aircraft crashed during a training flight at an air base south of Manila, the military said on Saturday.
The accident occurred at about 3:51 pm local time on Friday at Fernando Air Base in Batangas province, with both aircrafts going down within the base perimeter, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said in a statement.
No other casualties were reported.
Local media reported that the two aircrafts collided midair, but the air force has not confirmed the cause of the crash.
The PAF said an investigation is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident. It has temporarily grounded its fleet of SF-260 aircraft as a precautionary measure pending the outcome of the investigation.
The air force also said it was coordinating with the families of the deceased pilots to provide assistance and appealed to the public to respect their privacy.
The statement did not identify the pilots or provide further details about the circumstances leading to the crash.
The accident is the latest fatal incident involving the SF-260 trainer aircraft in the Philippines.
In May, two pilots were killed when an SF-260 crashed in a mountainous area in the country's north. Another SF-260 TP Marchetti crashed during a training flight in 2023, killing two pilots.
The Philippine military also used SF-260 aircraft during air operations against Islamic State-linked militants who seized parts of the southern city of Marawi in 2017.
The cause of Friday's crash remains under investigation, and the air force has not said when the grounded aircraft will return to service.UNI AAB
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