Four Philippine Air Force pilots died when two SF-260 aircraft crashed during a training flight at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, south of Manila. The accident happened at about 15:51 on 23 October; the air force confirmed the fatalities on Saturday, 24 October.
The fleet is grounded
Both aircraft came down within the base perimeter. No other casualties were reported. All remaining SF-260 aircraft have been temporarily grounded as a precaution while investigators examine the accident.
What investigators must establish
Reports describe a mid-air collision, but the precise sequence and cause remain under investigation. A temporary grounding is a preventive safety measure; it does not by itself establish a technical defect or responsibility for the crash.
Families before speculation
The air force said it was coordinating assistance for the pilots’ families and asked that their privacy be respected. The immediate questions are how the training flight unfolded, what the evidence shows and what conditions must be met before the fleet can return to service. The archive photograph shows the aircraft type, not either of the aircraft involved in the accident.
