Air Force grounds 16 planes after crash kills 2 pilots
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has grounded all of its 16 remaining SF260 Marchetti trainer aircraft after one of them crashed in Benguet, killing the two pilots who were on a training mission.
“Yes, the remaining 16 SF260s are grounded pending [an] investigation,” Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco said in a message to reporters on Thursday.
She added that all other aircraft platforms used for flight training will continue to operate.
The PAF earlier confirmed the deaths of 1st Lt. Ruth Angelique Pasos, an instructor pilot, and 2nd Lt. Cherky Embudo, an aviation student, following the crash in Tuba town on Wednesday.
It said the Marchetti aircraft went down at 10:20 a.m. in Barangay Cabuyao during a long navigation training flight under the military’s pilot training program.
Responders found the two pilots unconscious at the crash site and rushed them to a hospital in Baguio City, where they later died from multiple injuries they sustained in the accident.
Their plane was among 11 SF260 trainer aircraft that left Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas en route to Baguio City. The 10 other planes all completed the flight.
Following the crash, the Air Force suspended all training activities involving the SF260 fleet while investigators determine the cause.
Victims cited
In a statement, the PAF mourned the deaths of the two pilots, describing them as dedicated personnel whose “courage, dedication and commitment to duty” would be remembered by the country and the military organization.
“Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten and their memory will continue to inspire generations of Filipino airmen,” it said as it also assured their fatalities of full institutional support.
The SF260 is a military trainer aircraft used by the PAF primarily for pilot instruction and training missions.
