Two Philippine military training aircraft collide midair, killing 4 pilots

Two training aircraft collide mid-air in the Philippines, killing 4 pilots

October 26

Four Philippine Air Force pilots were killed when two training aircraft collided mid-air and crashed in the Philippines.

The Philippine Air Force said in a statement that the incident occurred at 3:51 pm on October 23 while the aircraft were conducting flight training at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas province.

The crashed aircraft were SF-260 light training planes designed and manufactured by Italian designer Stelio Frati, according to reports.

All four pilots aboard the aircraft were killed, but the Philippine Air Force has not yet disclosed how many were on board each aircraft or the names of the deceased.

Air Force spokesperson Col. Alvin Jay Capunguean said the cause of the incident is being investigated and that all remaining SF-260 training aircraft have been temporarily grounded from flying until the investigations are completed.

According to unnamed Philippine government officials, the two aircraft collided mid-air, and one of them crashed near military barracks inside the air base, AP reported, citing an eyewitness.

Last May as well, an SF-260 aircraft crashed in the mountainous region of northern Philippines, killing 2 pilots, and in 2023, an SF-260 TP Marchetti aircraft also crashed, killing 2 pilots.

Ref & Photo: The Independent

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