Lipa City, Philippines: The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has temporarily grounded its entire fleet of SF-260 trainer aircraft following a fatal training-flight accident that killed four pilots at Fernando Air Base in Batangas province, with the aircraft to remain grounded as investigators determine the cause of the crash.
The grounding was announced as a precautionary safety measure after two SF-260 aircraft went down within the base perimeter at approximately 3:51 p.m. local time on October 23, 2026. The Air Force has not announced when the fleet will return to service, and the investigation remains ongoing.
In its statement, the PAF said: “An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident, while all SF-260 aircraft have been temporarily grounded as a precautionary safety measure.”
The measure places the aircraft type used in the incident out of service while authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the accident. The Air Force has not disclosed the number of SF-260 aircraft currently in its fleet or provided a timeline for completing the investigation.
The grounding follows an accident involving two SF-260 single-engine, propeller-driven trainer aircraft during a training flight at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas, south of the Philippine capital, Manila.
The incident occurred at 3:51 p.m. on Friday, October 23, according to the PAF. Both aircraft crashed within the air base perimeter, killing all four pilots aboard. No casualties on the ground were reported.
Video footage obtained by GMA News showed the two aircraft colliding in mid-air. The Philippine Star subsequently reported that the aircraft were participating in a flyby exercise, a coordinated manoeuvre in which aircraft operate in close formation, and identified the aircraft by tail numbers 032 and 037.
The Philippine Star reported that seven aircraft were involved in the exercise and that the remaining five landed safely after the collision. However, investigators have yet to establish the precise sequence of events that led to the crash.
The PAF initially described the incident as an aviation accident involving two SF-260 aircraft during a training flight. It confirmed the four deaths in a statement released on October 24, but did not identify the pilots or disclose how the personnel were distributed between the two aircraft.
The Air Force said it was coordinating with the bereaved families to provide assistance and appealed to the public to respect their privacy.
“The PAF honors the service and sacrifice of our fallen aviators and is coordinating with their bereaved families to provide necessary assistance,” the service said.
It added: “We respectfully appeal to the public to respect their privacy during this difficult time,” citing the families’ request.
The Philippine Department of National Defense has also addressed the accident, with Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. saying the investigation would examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Speaking about the inquiry, Teodoro said: “Let’s wait for the investigation. There will be no shortcut in the investigation.”
PAF spokesperson Colonel Alvin Jay Capinguian said immediate response measures were activated following the incident. Response personnel were deployed to secure the site and assess the situation, while the Air Force coordinated assistance for the families of the deceased pilots.
The Department of National Defense said the investigation would establish the facts, determine the cause and identify any gaps requiring corrective action to help prevent similar accidents. The department also reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and the safety of military personnel.
The fleet grounding remains a precautionary measure pending the outcome of the investigation. The PAF has not announced a final cause, identified the pilots involved in the October accident or confirmed a date for resuming SF-260 operations.
Earlier SF-260 crash killed two pilots in May
The October accident is the latest fatal crash involving a Philippine Air Force SF-260 in recent years. On May 20, 2026, another SF-260 trainer crashed during a training flight in Tuba, Benguet province, in northern Philippines, killing two military pilots.
The PAF identified the victims of that accident as First Lieutenant Ruth Angelique Pasos, an instructor pilot, and Second Lieutenant Cherky Embudo. Both were assigned to the Air Education and Training Command at Fernando Air Base.
The Philippine News Agency reported that the aircraft crashed at approximately 10:30 a.m. on May 20. Initial reports said the two pilots were recovered from the aircraft unconscious and later died.
Following that accident, the Air Force temporarily grounded its remaining SF-260 trainers, reported at the time to number 16, while it assessed the situation. The grounding disrupted the final phase of military pilot training.
The October crash has now prompted another temporary grounding of the type after four more pilots were killed. The two separate incidents have resulted in six pilot deaths involving SF-260 aircraft in the Philippines in 2026.
