In a devastating incident, a private plane crashed in a rice field in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, resulting in the death of all four passengers on board. The crash occurred on Thursday afternoon, and the victims were described as Caucasian-looking men. The aircraft, identified as a Beechcraft King Air 300 with registration number N349CA, was under investigation by local authorities and emergency responders led by Ameer Jehad Ambolodto, the provincial disaster response officer.
Eyewitnesses recounted the plane flying unusually low over the area before it abruptly plummeted into an open field in Barangay Malatimon. Social media footage captured the aftermath, showing the wreckage alongside a fatally injured water buffalo. Police and military personnel quickly secured the site, awaiting further investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
The identities of the victims remain unconfirmed, and the purpose and origin of the flight are still under investigation. The United States Embassy in Manila disclosed that the plane was contracted by the US military, but referred further inquiries to the US Indo-Pacific Command. This tragic event has left the community in shock and mourning as they await more details on the circumstances surrounding the crash.