A Philippine Air Force (PAF) SF.260 trainer aircraft crashed into a rice paddy in Pilar, Bataan, on Wednesday, leaving both crew members dead, officials said.
The plane was on a routine training flight from Sangley Point Airport in Cavite City when it went down in the rural area, according to initial PAF reports. The crash site was in a vast agricultural zone, with local residents reporting a loud explosion before the aircraft hit the ground.
Military authorities have not yet released the names of the two fatalities pending notification of their next of kin. The PAF said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident, which occurred during daytime operations.
The SF.260 is an Italian-designed piston-engine trainer used by the PAF for basic and intermediate flight instruction. The model has been in service with the Philippine military for decades, and this incident marks one of the deadliest training accidents in recent years.
Emergency responders from the local government and military units quickly secured the area, while PAF personnel retrieved the remains and began documenting the wreckage. The PAF extended its condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public of a thorough probe into the tragedy.