Four Philippine Air Force pilots killed as two trainer aircraft crash in Batangas

The Philippine Air Force confirmed four deaths after two trainer aircraft crashed in Batangas. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident

PGurus Newsdesk

October 24, 2026

A fatal aircraft accident in the Philippines has claimed four pilots’ lives, prompting the temporary grounding of the Air Force’s SF-260 trainer fleet

The remaining SF-260 fleet has been temporarily grounded pending an investigation

Four Philippine Air Force pilots were killed after two military trainer aircraft crashed during a training flight at Fernando Air Base in Batangas province, south of Manila, on Friday, October 23.

The Philippine Air Force confirmed the fatalities on Saturday, October 24. The aircraft involved were two SF-260 trainer planes, which crashed within the premises of the air base.

Local media reports indicated that the two aircraft collided mid-air before crashing. However, the exact circumstances leading to the accident remain under investigation.

Aircraft grounded pending investigation

Following the incident, the Philippine Air Force temporarily grounded its fleet of SF-260 aircraft as a precautionary measure while authorities investigate the cause of the crash.

Emergency response teams were deployed to secure the accident site and assess the situation. No other casualties were reported on the ground.

The incident is another setback for the Philippine military, which has faced challenges in modernising its air forcedefence servicesand other amid budgetary constraints and competing security demands.

Authorities are expected to provide further details as the investigation progresses.

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