Four Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots were killed Friday afternoon when two SF-260 trainer aircraft collided in midair over Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas.
PAF spokesperson Col. Alvin Jay Capinguian confirmed the fatalities on Saturday, noting that the crash occurred at 3:51 p.m. during a routine training exercise.
“Both aircraft went down within the base perimeter, with no other casualties reported,” Capinguian said in an official statement.
In response to the tragedy, military authorities have ordered the immediate grounding of the PAF’s entire fleet of SF-260 aircraft while aviation investigators examine the crash site and flight records to determine the root cause.
“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,” Capinguian explained.
This marks the second fatal accident involving the PAF’s SF-260 fleet this year, following a May 20 crash in Benguet that claimed the lives of two aviators.
Expressing grief over the tragedy, the Air Force extended condolences to the victims’ relatives while committing full support to the affected households.
‘The PAF honors the service and sacrifice of our fallen aviators and is coordinating with their bereaved families to provide necessary assistance,” Capinguian said. “At the families’ request, we respectfully appeal to the public to respect their privacy during this difficult time.”