DAVAO CITY – Four persons died after an the aircraft crashed on a rice field in Ampatuan, Maguindano del Sur while conducting intelligence and surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) support to the Philippine military on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 6, the US Indo-Pacific Command (USIndoPaCom) confirmed Friday.
In a statement, the Hawaii-based USIndoPaCom said that the aircraft was on a routine mission as part of the US-Philippine security cooperation activities and was contracted by the US Department of Defense at the request of Filipino allies.
“We can confirm no survivors of the crash. There were four personnel on board, including one US military service member and three defense contractors,” the statement said.
The US Embassy in Manila on Friday also confirmed that the aircraft was indeed contracted by the US military.
Hours after the crash, the Ampatuan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said that the incident happened around 2 p.m. and left four fatalities.
The aircraft, a Beech Super King Air 350-B300, crashed on a rice field and almost hit a house in Barangay Malatimon, about eight kilometers east of the town proper.
While no person was injured on the ground, a carabao was severely injured after it was hit on its snout.
The MDRRMO said the carabao was eventually butchered due to severity of its injury.
The ill-fated aircraft is registered to Metrea Special Aerospace ISR Inc. based in Oklahoma, United States according to records at the online database of the United States Federal Aviation Authority.
FAA records added that the plane was equipped with turbo prop engines and manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft Co. in 2002.
In a separate statement posted on its website, Metrea confirmed that they own the aircraft.
“We are able to confirm that at around 1400 local time on Thursday, 6th February, a Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft carrying four persons, including one US service member, crashed close to Ampatuan. It is with deep regret we are able to confirm that there were no survivors. The families of our crew have been informed and we’re providing full support,” Metrea posted.
The USIndoPaCom said that the names of the crew were being withheld pending next of kin notification as the cause of the crash was under investigation as of Friday.
The Amaptuan MDRRMO confirmed Friday morning that the remains of the crew have been picked up from the site using a Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter.
Photos and videos of the helicopter at the crash site also circulated on social media.
The USIndoPaCom is said to be the largest combatant commands covering the west coast of the US towards Asia, Australia, and Pacific Islands. It is in charge of using and integrating United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps forces. (Keith Bacongco)
