New Delhi: Four pilots died after two Philippine Air Force aircraft collided midair during a training exercise at Fernando Air Base in Batangas province
on Friday, officials said on Saturday.
The accident involved two SF-260 aircraft. Both went down within the air base perimeter, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said. Officials reported no casualties apart from the four pilots. Videos shared widely on social media showed the aircraft colliding before they fell to the ground. The crash caused panic among people in the area.
Fleet grounded after collision
The air force ordered a temporary halt to SF-260 operations while investigators examined the circumstances of the accident. “An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident, while all SF-260 aircraft have been temporarily grounded as a precautionary safety measure,” the Philippines Air Force said in a press statement.
🚨⚡#BREAKING : 🇵🇭 Philippine Air Force planes FLY DANGEROUSLY CLOSE before COLLIDING MID-AIR — BOTH SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL & CRASH during TRAINING
4 AIR FORCE PILOTS KILLED https://t.co/QISqjC4yBj
— Connect World News (@CWNBreaking) October 24, 2026
The statement did not identify the four pilots. The air force said it would coordinate with their families and provide assistance.
Families seek privacy
The PAF paid tribute to the pilots and asked the public to respect their families’ request for privacy.
“The PAF honors the service and sacrifice of our fallen aviators and is coordinating with their bereaved families to provide necessary assistance. At the families’ request, we respectfully appeal to the public to respect their privacy during this difficult time,” the statement read.
Officials have not established what caused the two aircraft to collide during the exercise.
Earlier crash killed two
The collision followed another fatal SF-260 training accident in Benguet province in May. That crash killed instructor First Lieutenant Ruth Angelique R Pasos and Second Lieutenant Cherky E Embudo. Their aircraft had departed Fernando Air Base for Baguio when it crashed in the Cabuyao area of Tuba municipality.
Investigators later examined the accident but could not establish a definitive cause. Following that crash, the air force grounded its 16 SF-260 aircraft as a precaution. “Their courage, dedication, and commitment to duty will always be remembered by the Philippine Air Force and the nation they faithfully served,” the air force had said in its tribute to the two pilots.
