Four Philippine Air Force Pilots Killed in Training Aircraft Collision 

Four Philippine Air Force pilots were killed when two SF-260 training aircraft crashed during a flight exercise at Fernando Air Base in Batangas province, south of Manila, on October 23, 2026. Officials confirmed the fatalities the following day, while reports indicated that the aircraft collided midair before crashing within the base perimeter. No additional casualties were reported. The military has temporarily grounded its remaining SF-260 aircraft and launched an investigation to determine the cause of the deadly aviation accident. 

MANILA, Philippines — October 24, 2026 — Four Philippine Air Force pilots were killed after two military training aircraft collided and crashed during a flight exercise at an air base south of Manila, prompting authorities to ground the aircraft fleet while investigators work to establish what went wrong.

The accident occurred at approximately 3:51 p.m. Friday, October 23, at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas province. The Philippine Air Force confirmed the deaths on Saturday, describing the incident as an aviation accident involving two SF-260 training aircraft.

The two single-engine, propeller-driven aircraft went down within the boundaries of the military installation. Local media reports and video footage indicated that the planes collided in midair before crashing. No additional casualties were reported on the ground.

The Philippine Air Force has not confirmed the precise sequence of events that led to the collision. Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the training flight, including flight operations, aircraft condition and other factors that may have contributed to the accident.

In response to the crash, the Philippine Air Force temporarily grounded its remaining SF-260 aircraft as a precautionary safety measure. The aircraft, manufactured in Italy, are used to train military pilots for more advanced flying duties.

The grounding will remain in place while authorities investigate the incident. Officials have not disclosed how many aircraft remain in the fleet or indicated when flights might resume.

The military also expressed condolences to the families of the four pilots and said it was providing assistance to their loved ones. Authorities withheld the pilots' identities at the families' request, urging the public to respect their privacy during the mourning period.

The crash is the latest in a series of fatal accidents involving Philippine military training aircraft. In May 2026, two pilots died when an SF-260 crashed during a navigation training flight in Benguet province in the northern Philippines. Another SF-260 aircraft crashed during a training flight in 2023, killing two crew members.

The latest tragedy comes as the Philippine military continues efforts to strengthen its aviation capabilities and modernize its armed forces. Financial constraints and competing defense priorities have presented longstanding challenges as the country seeks to improve military readiness and respond to regional security concerns.

However, investigators have not established whether the aircraft's age, maintenance, operational procedures or any other factor contributed to Friday's crash. Any conclusions about the cause will depend on the findings of the official inquiry.

The Philippine Air Force has launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision and identify measures that could help prevent similar accidents. Officials have not announced a timeline for completing the inquiry.

For now, the focus remains on supporting the bereaved families, establishing what happened during the training exercise and reviewing the safety of the affected aircraft fleet.

The deaths of the four pilots represent a significant loss for the Philippine Air Force and have renewed attention on the risks faced by military aviators during training. As investigators begin their work, the findings could help guide future safety reviews and decisions about the resumption of SF-260 flight operations.

Reporting based on information available as of October 24, 2026. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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