COTABATO CITY, Philippines – At least four people were killed when a small aircraft crashed into a rice field in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao del Sur, on Thursday afternoon, February 6, local officials said.
Tim Ambolodto, head of the Maguindanao Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said a team recovered the bodies from the wreckage of a Beech King Air 300 aircraft with the registration number N349CA.
“They appear to be foreigners. We are waiting for the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) to conduct further investigation,” Ambolodto said.
The crash occurred around 2 pm in Malatimon village, alarming local farmers.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed the incident in a media advisory but did not provide other details.
“Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” CAAP said.
Meanwhile, Kanishka Gangopadhyay, United States embassy in Manila spokesman, confirmed that the ill-fated plane was contracted by the US military.
The official did not provide further details and deferred to the US Indo-Pacific Command. – Rappler.com