Four Philippine Air Force pilots were killed after two SF-260 trainer aircraft crashed during a training flight at Fernando Air Base in Batangas province, south of Manila. The military confirmed the deaths on Saturday.

The accident occurred on Friday and involved two SF-260 aircraft during a training flight, the Philippine Air Force said in a statement. Local media reported that the two aircraft collided in midair.

The aircraft crashed within the grounds of the air base, and there were no other casualties. The Air Force has temporarily grounded its fleet of SF-260 trainer planes pending an investigation into the cause of the accident.

The SF-260 has been involved in earlier fatal accidents in the Philippines; in May, two pilots were killed when one of the trainers crashed in a mountainous area.

Source: Reuters