The plane that crashed yesterday in Maguindanao del Sur was identified as a US Department of Defense-contracted surveillance aircraft that was conducting intelligence operations at the request of Philippine authorities. Four people were killed in the incident.
The US Indo-Pacific Command confirmed in a statement on Friday, February 7, that one US military service member and three defense contractors were among the victims.
Their identities are not being released until their families have been notified.
According to the statement, the plane was conducting a routine intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission as part of US-Philippine security cooperation activities when the incident occurred.
"The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and we have no further details to share at this time," according to the Indo-Pacific Command.
They also said they will provide further updates as information becomes available.
US forces have traditionally been deployed in some parts of Mindanao in support of the Philippine military's counterinsurgency efforts against militant groups.
In November 2024, the Philippines and the United States signed a military intelligence-sharing agreement that sets protocols for sharing military secrets between the two countries, but it does not require either side to share sensitive data.
