Batangas (Philippines): Four pilots were killed after two SF-260 training aircraft operated by the Philippine Air Force collided during a training flight near Fernando Air Base in Batangas province, according to local media reports.
The two aircraft reportedly collided in mid-air before crashing within the airbase premises. Both planes were destroyed in the incident, while no additional casualties were reported.
The accident has prompted the Philippine Air Force to temporarily suspend flights of its SF-260 training aircraft as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Philippine Air Force Suspends SF-260 Training Flights
The Philippine Air Force has grounded its SF-260 training aircraft until the cause of the accident is established, according to the information provided.
The suspension is intended to remain in place while the investigation examines what led to the two aircraft colliding during the training exercise.
The incident occurred at Fernando Air Base in Batangas, where both aircraft reportedly came down after the mid-air collision. No further details about the identities of the pilots or the precise sequence of events were available in the supplied report.
Previous SF-260 Aircraft Accidents In The Philippines
The latest crash comes amid previous fatal accidents involving SF-260 training aircraft in the Philippines.
In May this year, an SF-260 aircraft reportedly crashed in a mountainous area in the northern Philippines, killing two pilots.
Another SF-260 TP Marchetti aircraft crashed during a training flight in 2023, also resulting in the deaths of two pilots.
The repeated incidents have brought renewed attention to the safety of the aircraft used by the Philippine Air Force for training.
SF-260 Aircraft Also Used In Military Operations
The SF-260 aircraft have also been used by the Philippine military beyond training duties. In 2017, during the conflict in Marawi in the southern Philippines, the military deployed SF-260 aircraft for air operations against militants linked to the Islamic State group.
The latest collision, however, occurred during a training flight. Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances of the accident before determining its cause.
