MANILA, Philippines – Four people died as a private plane crashed on a farm in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao del Sur on Thursday, authorities said.
Local officials confirmed that the bodies were recovered from a wreckage of a Beechcraft King Air 300 aircraft with registration number N349CA.
The aircraft flew from Cebu and was reportedly on its way to Cotabato City to conduct an aerial survey before it crashed, according to information gathered by DZRH reporter Jun Dimacutac from the Police Provincial Office of Maguindanao del Sur.
Eyewitnesses also reported spotting the aircraft flying low over the area before it suddenly nose-dived and crashed in an open field at around 2pm in Malatimon village, fatally injuring a water buffalo, Dimacutac reported.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines also confirmed the crash.
“The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirms that an aircraft has crashed in Maguindanao del Sur,” according to its media advisory.
“Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” CAAP added.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Manila confirmed to DZRH that the plane that crashed in Maguindanao del Sur is a US contracted aircraft.
“We can confirm that a U.S. military contracted aircraft crashed in Maguindanao Del Sur on February 6,” Kanishka Gangopadhyay, Embassy spokesperson said.
Gangopadhyay did not give further details. “For further information, we refer you to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command,” he added.
