Manila: A U.S military aircraft crash in the southern Philippines on Thursday resulted in the deaths of one American service member and three defense contractors, according to a statement from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).
The aircraft, a Beechcraft King Air 300, was conducting intelligence and surveillance operations at the request of the Philippine government when it went down in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, the U.S. military confirmed.
The plane had taken off from Cebu in central Philippines and was en route to Cotabato City for an aerial survey before the fatal crash, the Philippines' Civil Aviation Authority stated on Friday.
INDOPACOM described the flight as a routine mission supporting security cooperation between the U.S. and the Philippines, both long-time defense allies. Investigators are now working to determine the cause of the incident.
