MANILA, Oct 24: Four pilots were killed after two Philippine Air Force training aircraft collided mid air and crashed at a military air base south of Manila, officials said on Saturday.
The accident occurred on Friday afternoon when the two SF-260 aircraft were flying at low altitude before going down at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, located in Batangas province. Authorities confirmed that no one on the ground was injured.
The Philippine Air Force described the incident as an accidental crash but did not immediately disclose further details. Two officials familiar with the incident told The Associated Press that the aircraft collided while airborne. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly on the matter.
A witness said one of the two-seat planes crashed near the barracks used by military personnel at the air base.
Following the tragedy, the air force temporarily grounded its remaining SF-260 aircraft as investigators began examining the circumstances surrounding the collision. The military did not disclose the number of aircraft of this type still in service.
The crash represents another challenge for the Philippine military, which has faced persistent financial constraints in its efforts to modernise its equipment and strengthen operational capabilities.
The country has long struggled to upgrade its air force, navy and army while managing multiple security challenges, including decades-old communist and Muslim insurgencies. It is also dealing with increasingly tense territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the mid-air collision and determine what led to the deaths of the four pilots.