Four Philippine Air Force pilots killed as two SF-260 trainers collide in Batangas

Four Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots were killed when two SF-260 trainer aircraft collided in mid-air over Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas province, at about 3:51 pm on Friday, October 23, 2026. The Air Force confirmed the deaths on Saturday and grounded its entire SF-260 fleet while it investigates what went wrong.

What happened

The two propeller-driven trainers were on a training flight when they collided over the base, south of Manila. Both aircraft came down inside the base perimeter. All four pilots on board died, and no other casualties were reported on the ground.

Air Force spokesperson Col. Alvin Jay Capinguian first confirmed on Friday that two SF-260s had been involved in an incident during a training flight, without giving details. On Saturday the PAF said in a statement that it "mourns the loss of four pilots" and described the event as an aviation accident. Video of the collision circulated in Philippine media.

The pilots' names and ranks have not been released, at the request of their families.

Key fact	Detail
Date and time	Friday, October 23, 2026, about 3:51 pm local time
Location	Fernando Air Base, Lipa City, Batangas
Aircraft	Two SF-260 trainers
Deaths	4 pilots (all on board)
Ground casualties	None reported
Fleet status	All SF-260s temporarily grounded

The investigation

The Air Force said an inquiry has begun to establish the cause, and it has not yet given any explanation for how the two aircraft came into contact. It said that "all SF-260 aircraft have been temporarily grounded as a precautionary safety measure," but did not say how many planes are affected or how long the grounding will last.

Fernando Air Base is home to the PAF's flying school, where new military pilots learn to fly, so the grounding is likely to disrupt pilot training until the review is complete.

Background

The SF-260 is a small, two-seat Italian-designed trainer that has served air forces around the world for decades. The PAF uses it mainly for basic flight training, as well as some other roles.

This is the second deadly SF-260 accident in the Philippines this year. On May 20, 2026, an SF-260 crashed in Tuba, Benguet, during a navigation training flight, killing an instructor pilot and an aviation student. After that crash the Air Force grounded its 16 remaining SF-260s for checks before returning them to service. A separate SF-260 crash in 2023 also killed two pilots.

Reactions

The Air Force expressed condolences to the families and said it is supporting them. Military officials have asked the public to avoid spreading unverified accounts or videos while the investigation continues.

Why it matters

The loss of four trained pilots in a single accident is a heavy blow for a small air force that is trying to expand and modernise as tensions continue in the South China Sea. Repeated accidents involving the same trainer type are also likely to increase pressure on Manila to speed up the replacement of older aircraft.

The PAF's training planes are used for exactly the kind of flying that builds the next generation of fighter, transport and helicopter pilots, so a long grounding could slow the pipeline of new aircrew.

What happens next

• The PAF's investigation board will examine wreckage, flight data, radio records and video to determine the cause.
• The Air Force is expected to decide on the length of the SF-260 grounding once initial findings are in.
• Military honours and funerals for the four pilots are expected in the coming days, after their families are ready for their names to be released.