Air Force investigators are looking into materiel and other factors in the ongoing probe into the recent mid-air collision of two trainer aircraft that claimed the lives of four pilots.
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Air Force spokesman Col. Alvin Jay Capinguian disclosed that investigators are also considering the environment as another possible cause.
“Environment, materiel, the state of the fuel, the oil, everything. We are looking at (all angles) …Everything is being looked into,” Capinguian said.
The two SF-260 trainer planes collided mid-air during a training flight at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City in Batangas last Friday and crashed within the base perimeter.
The incident resulted in the death of the four pilots on board, namely Maj. David Joshua Rojo, and 1Lts. Ma. Melvin Aceboque, Raymart Cabangcala, and Angeleo Adrian Penaflor.
Capinguian said the investigation, being conducted by the Air Force Safety Office, commenced immediately after the mishap.
“Our investigation team has already secured the crash site, and they have gathered as much debris as possible. They have started the process of conducting the investigation,” Capinguian said.
Capinguian declined to further discuss details so as not to preempt the investigation.
“Needless to say, the investigation has already started, and our investigating team has already started gathering all the needed data,” Capinguian also said.
Capinguian dismissed speculations on social media that old age caused the mishap.
“Each aircraft has a number of operating hours associated with it,” the Air Force spokesman said.
“The aircraft is not old. They are well within their airframe operating hours, and they have several years of operation to go,” Capinguian added.
Capinguian said the two SF-260s that figured in the mishap belong to a fleet that was delivered from 2010 to 2011.
“They were procured fresh from the manufacturer, brand new at that time,” Capinguian also said.