This story has been updated to include a statement from Metrea.
A surveillance plane contracted by the Pentagon crashed in the Philippines on Thursday killing four, including a U.S. Marine, two defense officials confirmed to USNI News.
An aircraft contracted by the Department of Defense crashed Thursday in the Maguindanao del Sur, a Philippine province, killing the four people on board, according to a statement from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
“The aircraft was providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support at the request of our Philippine allies. The incident occurred during a routine mission in support of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation activities,” reads the statement from INDO-Pacific.
“We can confirm no survivors of the crash. There were four personnel on board, including one U.S. military service member and three defense contractors.”
The four crew members – the Marine and three defense contractors – were conducting a surveillance mission from a contracted Beechcraft twin-engine Super King Air 350 when the aircraft crashed, a defense official told USNI News.
The plane, tail number NC349CA, crashed in a rice field, according to The Associated Press. A defense official confirmed to USNI News the aircraft was owned by the American defense contractor Metrea, which provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services from a fleet of specialized aircraft. Open source flight trackers showed the aircraft operating into the South China Sea from Mactan-Cebu International Airport, one the original of nine sites throughout the Philippines slated for American military access through the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. Washington and Manila expanded the agreement in 2023 to cover additional sites in Northern Luzon and Palawan.
No one on the ground was injured, but a water buffalo was killed in the wreck, according to the AP.
Metrea is involved in the response to the crash, the company said in a Thursday statement.
“It is with deep regret we are able to confirm that there were no survivors. The families of our crew have been informed and we’re providing full support,” reads the statement. “Metrea has enacted its emergency response plan and is working closely with all relevant government authorities to establish the cause of the accident. The safety and wellbeing of our employees and customers continues to be our top priority.”
ISR is one of the capabilities the company offers, according to its website.
“Our fleet is manned by highly experienced former military pilots, ISR sensor operators and specialized maintenance teams deployed to austere, remote worldwide locations,” reads the website.
Washington has increased its surveillance support to Manila amid its series of spats with Beijing over disputed maritime features in the South China Sea, particularly over Second Thomas and Scarborough Shoals. The two countries inked an intelligence agreement last November that pledged further cooperation and the construction of a joint command center in Manila. U.S. Navy P-8s and Army drones have been spotted overflying incidents between Chinese and Philippine forces. Marine Corps MQ-9As have also been rotationally-deployed in the country, officials confirmed to USNI News in June. These drones operate from Basa Air Base.
Philippine state media reported that the low-flying aircraft may have been surveying the area around the Municipality of Ampatuan before it nose-divided into an open field in Barangay Malatimon.
American contractors have operated in the Philippines for decades, primarily on the island of Mindanao in support of Philippine counterinsurgency operations against communist and Islamic rebel groups.
INDOPACOM is withholding identification until next of kin has been notified. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The following is the complete Feb. 6, 2025 statement from INDO-PACOM.
STATEMENT ON AIRCRAFT INCIDENT IN MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR
On February 6, 2025, an aircraft contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense crashed in the Philippine Province of Maguindanao del Sur.
The aircraft was providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support at the request of our Philippine allies. The incident occurred during a routine mission in support of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation activities.
We can confirm no survivors of the crash. There were four personnel on board, including one U.S. military service member and three defense contractors.
The names of the crew are being withheld pending next of kin notification.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation and we have no further details to release at this time.
Additional updates will be provided as they become available.
