A U.S. military-contracted surveillance plane crashed in the southern Philippines on Thursday, February 6, 2025, killing all four people on board, including a U.S. Marine and three defence contractors.
The Beechcraft Super King Air B300 was on a routine intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission in support of U.S.-Philippine security operations when it went down in a rice field in Maguindanao del Sur province, near the town of Ampatuan.
Eyewitnesses Report Explosion Before Crash
Local residents reported seeing smoke and hearing an explosion before the aircraft crashed approximately half a mile from a cluster of farmhouses. While no civilians were harmed, a water buffalo was killed in the crash.
Pentagon Confirms ISR Mission
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft was supporting the Philippine military under an existing security cooperation agreement. The cause of the crash is under investigation, and the identities of the victims are being withheld pending notification of their families.
Aircraft Registered to U.S. Defense Contractor
The downed plane was registered to Metrea Special Aerospace ISR Inc., an Oklahoma-based defense contractor that provides airborne intelligence and reconnaissance services for the U.S. government.
Strategic Presence in the Philippines
The southern Philippines has long been a focus of U.S. military operations, particularly in assisting Philippine forces in combatting insurgent groups and militant organizations. The region has a significant Muslim population within the predominantly Catholic country.
The crash marks a significant loss in ongoing security cooperation efforts between the U.S. and the Philippines as both nations continue to address regional security threats. Further updates are expected as investigations proceed.
