President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a thorough investigation into last Friday’s mid-air collision involving two Air Force trainer planes that left four pilots dead, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Monday.
“The President wants it investigated because this is the third incident,” Teodoro told reporters in an interview in Makati City, referring to mishaps involving the SF-260 trainer aircraft.
The two SF-260 trainer planes collided mid-air during a training flight at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City last Friday afternoon and crashed within the base perimeter, killing all four pilots onboard.
Two SF-260s also crashed during training flights in Benguet and Bataan last May and in January 2023, respectively, leaving four pilots dead.
“The problem could be systemic so the (defense) department needs to intervene…If the aircraft had mechanical difficulty, we’ll find out in the investigation,” Teodoro said.
Teodoro said investigators will be examining the aircraft’s maintenance records and added that the Air Force Safety Office will be leading the probe.
“If the technical expertise of other agencies or partner countries, we are open to it,” Teodoro pointed out.
Teodoro lashed out at critics who are making what he called “sarcastic and inhuman comments” like questioning the capabilities of Air Force pilots in the event of a war with China, and suggesting that Air Force pilots should transfer to civilian aviation instead of making sacrifices in the military service.
“This is treason against the Republic of the Philippines and those who speak like this do not deserve to be called Filipinos…We strongly condemn these sarcastic comments which were made despite the death of our four pilots,” Teodoro also said.