The Philippines’ Department of National Defense has opened an investigation into the 23 October midair collision of two Philippine Air Force SF-260 trainer aircraft at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas. The accident killed all four pilots aboard and prompted the precautionary grounding of the PAF’s remaining SF-260 fleet, potentially disrupting basic and advanced pilot training while investigators determine whether corrective measures are required.
The aircraft collided at 3:51 p.m. local time during a close-formation training exercise and crashed within the air-base perimeter. Five other aircraft taking part in the seven-aircraft formation landed safely, and no ground casualties were reported. The aircraft involved were identified as SF-260s 032 and 037.
The Air Force Safety Office will lead the investigation. Its scope will include flight planning, administrative procedures, pilot training and performance, maintenance, command leadership, and the condition and history of the aircraft. Investigators are expected to examine maintenance records, salvageable components and toxicology evidence where samples remain available.
Close formation is a tactical manoeuvre intended to reduce an aircraft group’s radar signature. The precise sequence of the collision and its causal factors have not been established. The PAF has not initially released the names of the four pilots, citing coordination with their families and privacy concerns.