4 pilots killed as two Philippine military planes crash during training
Two SF-260 aircraft went down at Fernando Air Base; investigation launched
Two military planes crashed mid-air during training at an air base in the Philippines, killing four pilots, the air force said Saturday.
The SF-260 single propeller planes crashed at Fernando Air Base, south of Manila, on Friday afternoon.
Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.
"Both aircraft went down within the base perimeter, with no other casualties reported," Philippine Air Force spokesman Colonel Alvin Capinguian said in a statement.
An investigation was opened to determine the cause of the mishap, and Capinguian said the air force's fleet of SF-260s has been temporarily grounded as a precaution.
There have been a number of deadly crashes involving Philippine military aircraft in recent years.
In May, two military pilots were killed when another SF-260 plane crashed during a training flight in Benguet province in the northern Philippines.
