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Military plane crashes in Philippines, 2 pilots die

This file photo shows a Philippine Air Force SF-260FH single-prop plane.

Two pilots have died when a light single-prop aircraft operated by the Philippine Air Force went down at sea during an air exhibition show.

Air force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Enrico Canaya said the Italian-made SF-260FH was flying in formation with two other planes, when it crashed in waters off the coast of Nasugbo township, located approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of the capital, Manila, at around 9:40 a.m. local time (0140 GMT) on Saturday.

He said rescuers recovered the bodies of the pilot and the co-pilot, identified as Captain John Bayao and Lieutenant al-Nazer Jana, about 300 meters from the shore.

Canaya added that the corpses were flown by a Philippine Air Force helicopter to Villamor Air Base.

The ill-fated plane had taken off from the Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, and was part of a three-aircraft group taking part in activities commemorating the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Batangas Province from the Japanese forces toward the end of World War II.

Philippine Air Force commander Lieutenant General Jeffrey Delgado ordered about 16 remaining SF-260FH planes grounded in the wake of the crash. An investigation into the cause of the mishap is underway.

On August 21, 2012, the body of Philippines Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo was found in the sea 800 meters off the coast of the central Masbate Province, where his small plane had crashed three days earlier.

Robredo, 54, was heading to his hometown of Naga city from central Cebu city, when one of the plane’s engines stalled 30 minutes into the flight. The aircraft crashed as it attempted an emergency landing at Masbate airport, located 378 kilometers (235 miles) southeast of the capital, Manila.

MP/HSN/SS

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