The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, October 23, 2026, and was confirmed by the Philippine Air Force on Saturday. The aircraft involved were two SF-260 single-engine training planes.

Air Force spokesperson Colonel Alvin Capinguian said both aircraft went down within the perimeter of the military base. No other casualties were reported.

Local media reports indicated that the aircraft collided in mid-air before crashing. However, the military has not released a final account of what caused the accident.

Following the incident, the Philippine Air Force launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash. It also temporarily grounded its entire fleet of SF-260 aircraft as a precaution while the inquiry continues.

The air force expressed condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased pilots, adding that it was coordinating with their relatives to provide the necessary support. It also appealed to the public to respect the families’ privacy during the period of mourning.

The latest tragedy comes months after another fatal accident involving an SF-260 aircraft in the Philippines. In May 2026, two military pilots died when one of the training planes crashed during a navigation exercise in Tuba, Benguet province, in the northern part of the country.

The repeated fatal incidents involving the aircraft have renewed attention on flight safety within the Philippine military, although investigators have yet to establish whether the crashes share any common cause.

The SF-260 is a light aircraft used for military training and aerobatic flying. The Philippine Air Force has not announced when its grounded aircraft will return to service.

Authorities are expected to provide further information as the investigation progresses.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia