By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) unveiled Tuesday the identities of four fallen pilots aboard two SF-260 aircraft that crashed midair during a routine flight exercise in Lipa City, Batangas on October 23.
They were Maj. David Joshua Rojo, 1st Lt. Ma. Melvin Acebuque, 1st Lt. Raymart Cabangcala, and 1st Lt. Angeleo Adrian Peñaflor.
Brief footage from Stingray Tactical showed multiple fighter jets performing aerial maneuvers before eventually zooming in on two aircraft that slammed into each other, leaving behind a smoky trail as they crashed into the ground and left a field of debris in their path.
PAF vowed to conduct a thorough probe into the incident, which marks the second time that a similar aircraft was involved in the tragic demise of airmen following an earlier crash in Tuba, Benguet, in May 2026.
At this juncture, the Air Force was quick to address circulating discussions pointing out the aircraft’s age as the cause of the incident.
PAF Spokesperson Col. Alvin Jay Capinguian said in a statement, “We like to dispel the notion na ‘katandaan.’ Wala sa chronological age o hindi tinitingnan ang chronological age ng eroplano.
Each aircraft has a number of operating hours associated with it, at dun sinusukat ang operational capability niya, depending on how often the aircraft is used.”
18 SF-260 aircraft were procured by PAF between 2010-2011 as part of its training fleet, which also includes an assortment of T-41 Delta aircraft—a military version of the Cessna 172 plane.
Col. Capinguian concluded his statement by noting that all SF-260 aircraft were grounded as part of the ongoing investigation, and students taking lessons at flying schools will be reassigned to T-41 Delta aircraft.
Meanwhile, Malacañang expressed condolences to the kin of the fallen pilots, with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto visiting the wake of Maj. Rojo, and 1st Lts Acebuque and Peñaflor at Fernando Air Base, Batangas on Monday.
In a separate engagement that day, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the wake of 1st Lt. Cabangcala at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City. (with report from Patrick de Jesus | PTV News)
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