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Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. condemned “sarcastic and inhuman” comments that appeared on social media about the deaths of four Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots who were killed in a midair collision during a training flight on 23 October at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas. Speaking at the Association of Asia-Pacific Peace Operations Training Centers (AAPTC) 13th Annual General Meeting and Workshop 2026 in Makati, Teodoro called the remarks “unacceptable” and a “slap in the face” to the sacrifices of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The accident involved two SF‑260 aircraft that collided within the base perimeter. Both aircraft were destroyed, but no other casualties were reported. As a precaution, the PAF temporarily grounded its SF‑260 fleet while an investigation continued. Teodoro explained that tight formation flying is a standard training exercise designed to develop tactical skills and reduce radar visibility. He emphasized that the investigation was ongoing and that possible errors could not be ruled out. He also rejected comparisons between the incident and the Philippines’ defense posture against China, stating that Manila was not seeking war but was asserting its territorial sovereignty. In a statement released by the Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday, the agency expressed mourning for the four pilots and confirmed that the investigation would determine the cause of the accident and identify corrective measures to prevent similar tragedies. Defense Secretary Teodoro ordered a thorough investigation, noting that this was the third such occurrence. Investigators will examine maintenance records, preserve salvageable aircraft parts, review the pilots’ past performance, and conduct toxicology testing if samples remain available. He said the full accident investigation would be conducted under the Air Force Safety Office and that technical expertise from other agencies or partner countries would be welcomed if needed. Article source: The Daily Tribune | Image credit: The Daily Tribune
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. condemned “sarcastic and inhuman” comments that appeared on social media about the deaths of four Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots who were killed in a midair collision during a training flight on 23 October at Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas. Speaking at the Association of Asia-Pacific Peace Operations Training Centers (AAPTC) 13th Annual General Meeting and Workshop 2026 in Makati, Teodoro called the remarks “unacceptable” and a “slap in the face” to the sacrifices of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The accident involved two SF‑260 aircraft that collided within the base perimeter. Both aircraft were destroyed, but no other casualties were reported. As a precaution, the PAF temporarily grounded its SF‑260 fleet while an investigation continued. Teodoro explained that tight formation flying is a standard training exercise designed to develop tactical skills and reduce radar visibility. He emphasized that the investigation was ongoing and that possible errors could not be ruled out. He also rejected comparisons between the incident and the Philippines’ defense posture against China, stating that Manila was not seeking war but was asserting its territorial sovereignty. In a statement released by the Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday, the agency expressed mourning for the four pilots and confirmed that the investigation would determine the cause of the accident and identify corrective measures to prevent similar tragedies. Defense Secretary Teodoro ordered a thorough investigation, noting that this was the third such occurrence. Investigators will examine maintenance records, preserve salvageable aircraft parts, review the pilots’ past performance, and conduct toxicology testing if samples remain available. He said the full accident investigation would be conducted under the Air Force Safety Office and that technical expertise from other agencies or partner countries would be welcomed if needed.
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