Four pilots killed as two Philippine Air Force aircraft crash during training

Manila: Four pilots of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) were killed after two SF-260 aircraft crashed during a training flight at Fernando Air Base in the Philippines on October 23, 2026, the air force confirmed.

According to an official statement issued on October 24, the accident occurred at approximately 3:51 pm local time. Both aircraft went down within the perimeter of the air base. The air force said no other casualties were reported.

The cause of the crash has not yet been established, and an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Philippine Air Force grounds SF-260 fleet

Following the crash, the Philippine Air Force temporarily grounded all SF-260 aircraft as a precautionary safety measure.

The grounding will remain in place while investigators examine the accident and seek to establish what caused the two aircraft to go down during the training flight.

The air force has not disclosed whether technical problems, operational difficulties or other factors contributed to the crash. It has also not released the identities of the four pilots or provided details about the sequence of events leading up to the accident.

ALSO READ | ‘My journey of love began’: Sonia Gandhi recalls first meeting with Rajiv Gandhi in Cambridge

Air force offers support to bereaved families

In its official statement, the Philippine Air Force expressed condolences over the deaths and paid tribute to the four pilots, acknowledging their service.

The air force said it was coordinating with the families of the deceased to provide the necessary assistance following the tragedy.

At the request of the bereaved families, the PAF also appealed to the public to respect their privacy during the period of mourning.

What are SF-260 aircraft?

The SF-260 is a light aircraft used for military pilot training. The two aircraft involved in the accident were conducting a training flight when they crashed within the boundaries of Fernando Air Base.

The temporary grounding of the entire SF-260 fleet is a precautionary measure while the investigation continues. Further information about the aircraft, the pilots' training activities and the circumstances of the crash is yet to be released.

The accident has prompted an immediate safety response from the Philippine Air Force, which has suspended operations involving the SF-260 fleet pending the investigation.

Grounding aircraft of the same type after a fatal accident allows authorities to take precautions while examining whether any safety concerns may affect other aircraft in the fleet. However, the grounding itself does not establish that a technical defect caused the crash.

Investigators will need to establish the sequence of events, examine the aircraft involved and determine the factors that led to the accident before drawing conclusions.

For now, the confirmed details remain limited: four pilots died, two SF-260 aircraft crashed during a training flight, no other casualties were reported, and an investigation is underway.