Four confirmed dead in Maguindanao plane crash

DAVAO CITY — Authorities are investigating the cause of a tragic plane crash in Barangay Malatimon, Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, that claimed the lives of four individuals on Thursday, February 6, at around 2:00 p.m.

According to witnesses, the aircraft, a Beech King Air 300 with body number N349CA, was seen swerving left and right before it plunged into a farming area. The impact of the crash also injured a carabao.

Local officials and Brig. Gen. Romeo Juan Macapaz, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, confirmed the incident but requested time to complete their joint investigation before releasing the identities of the victims.

Rasul Sangki, a resident of Barangay Malatimon, was among the first to arrive at the crash site.

“At first, we thought it was just a large drone, but as we got closer, we saw people trapped inside,” Sangki recounted.

Barangay officials also reported that two of the fatalities appeared to be Caucasian, though authorities have yet to confirm their identities.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the crash and are coordinating with aviation experts to piece together what led to the aircraft’s sudden descent.

Meanwhile, local officials are urging residents to stay clear of the crash site as investigators conduct their probe.

Police and military personnel have secured the crash site while awaiting investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

Authorities have yet to determine the flight’s purpose and origin.

Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Manila said the plane was contracted by the US military but did not provide details and deferred to the US Indo-Pacific Command.

“We can confirm that a US military contracted aircraft crashed in Maguindanao Del Sur on February 6. For further information, we refer you to US Indo-Pacific Command,” Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency.