Manila: Small aircraft contracted by the US Defense Department crashed in southern Philippines, resulting in the deaths of all four individuals aboard, including a US Marine. According to the US Indo-Pacific Command, the crash took place in Maguindanao del Sur, with the aircraft wreckage located in a rice field.
The identities of the victims, including the three defense contractors, have not been disclosed pending family notification. The plane involved was a Beechcraft King Air 350, which was engaged in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations upon request from the Philippines. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
The aircraft was registered to Metrea Special Aerospace ISR, Inc., a company that provides airborne intelligence solutions. This incident occurred shortly after new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., focusing on security cooperation and military capability enhancements in the South China Sea.
The US military confirmed that the aircraft was on a routine mission in support of US-Philippine security initiatives when the crash occurred. They stated there were no survivors. While US troops are deployed temporarily in the Philippines, they assist the local military in combating groups affiliated with the Islamic State, which remain active in the region.
The Philippine military has indicated that it cannot provide further details regarding the crash, as it is considered a classified matter under ongoing investigation. Local authorities have also secured the crash site to prevent any evidence tampering.