Philippine Air Force SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 Crash

Two Philippine Air Force SF-260 trainers went down within the perimeter of Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas, at 3:51 p.m. on 23 October 2026, killing all four pilots aboard, the Philippine Air Force said. According to the Philippine Star, the aircraft were among seven taking part in a low-altitude formation flyby exercise; the other five landed safely, and witnesses quoted by the paper said the two trainers collided in mid-air. The Daily Tribune also reported a mid-air collision. No casualties were reported on the ground. The Air Force grounded its remaining SF-260 fleet as a precaution and opened an investigation into the cause. It was the second fatal SF-260 accident of the year, after the crash near Tuba, Benguet, on 20 May.