MANILA, Philippines — Four Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots were killed when two SF-260 trainer aircraft crashed during a training flight at Fernando Air Base on Friday, prompting the temporary grounding of all SF-260 aircraft pending an investigation into the accident.
In a statement issued Saturday, the PAF said the crashes occurred at 3:51 p.m. on Oct. 23, 2026. Both aircraft went down within the perimeter of Fernando Air Base.
No other casualties were reported.
The Air Force said all SF-260 aircraft had been temporarily grounded as a precaution while authorities investigate the cause of the crashes.
The PAF did not disclose the identities of the four pilots or specify how many personnel were aboard each aircraft.
The cause of the accident has yet to be determined.
The Air Force said it was coordinating with the families of the deceased pilots to provide assistance.
It also appealed to the public to respect the families' privacy during their time of mourning, saying the request was made at the families' own request.
The PAF paid tribute to the pilots, honoring their service and sacrifice.
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