A surveillance aircraft operated by a U.S. defense contractor crashed into a rice field on the Philippine island of Mindanao, killing all four people on board.

Tim Ambolodto, an official in Maguindanao del Sur province, said the Beechcraft King Air 300, registered as N349CA, went down in a rice field in the town of Ampatuan around 2 p.m. local time today. There were no casualties on the ground.

"The victims appear to be foreigners. We are awaiting further information from the police," Ambolodto said. Local police officer Jopy Ventura stated that authorities have not yet identified the victims and are securing the crash site. The Philippine military declined to provide additional details, citing security concerns and the ongoing investigation.

Kanishka Gangopadhyay, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, confirmed that the aircraft was contracted by the Pentagon, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (PACOM) will release an official statement on the incident.

The cause of the crash remains unclear. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft veer left and right before crashing, striking and killing a water buffalo in the process.

According to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, the aircraft was operated by Metrea, a U.S. defense contractor specializing in aerial reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence gathering (ISR). The company also provides aerial refueling, tactical helicopter training, and cybersecurity services for the U.S. Department of Defense.

The U.S. previously maintained a large military presence in the Philippines after World War II, but Manila terminated the agreement in 1991, leading to the closure of U.S. military bases.

Today, the U.S. maintains only a limited rotational force in the Philippines, primarily providing intelligence support to counter Islamic State-linked militants operating on Mindanao.

(Sources: Rappler, AFP)

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