DAVAO CITY – The US Indo-Pacific Command (USIndoPaCom) confirmed on Friday, Feb. 7, that the aircraft that crashed in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Thursday, Feb. 6, was conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support to the Philippine military.
THE plane's wreckage sits on a ricefield in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur. (Photo courtesy of Sam Mala)
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/6/4-dead-in-maguindanao-del-sur-plane-crash
In a statement, the Hawaii-based USIndoPaCom said that the aircraft was on a routine mission as part of the US-Philippine security cooperation activities and was contracted by the US Department of Defense at the request of Filipino allies.
“We can confirm no survivors of the crash. There were four personnel on board, including one US military service member and three defense contractors,” the statement said.
The US Embassy in Manila on Friday also confirmed that the aircraft was indeed contracted by the US military.
The Ampatuan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said that the incident happened around 2 p.m.
The aircraft, a Beech Super King Air 350-B300, crashed on a rice field and almost hit a house in Barangay Malatimon, about eight kilometers east of the town proper.
While no person was injured on the ground, a carabao was severely injured after it was hit on its snout.
The MDRRMO said athe carabao was eventually butchered due to severity of its injury.
The ill-fated aircraft is registered to Metrea Special Aerospace ISR Inc. based in Oklahoma, United States according to records at the online database of the United States Federal Aviation Authority.
FAA records added that the plane was equipped with turbo prop engines and manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft Co. in 2002.
In a separate statement posted on its website, Metrea confirmed that they own the aircraft.
"We are able to confirm that at around 1400 local time on Thursday, 6th February, a Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft carrying four persons, including one US service member, crashed close to Ampatuan. 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,” Metrea posted.
The USIndoPaCom said that the names of the crew are being withheld pending next of kin notification as the cause of the crash is currently under investigation
The MDRRMO confirmed on Friday morning that the remains of the crew have been picked up from the site using a Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter.
Photos and videos of the helicopter at the crash site circulated on social media.
The USIndoPaCom is said to be the largest combatant commands covering the west coast of the US towards Asia, Australia, and Pacific Islands. It is in charge of using and integrating United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps forces.
For years, the US military has been providing technical support to the Philippine military in its counter-terrorism campaign in some parts of Mindanao, particularly in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Maguindanao del Sur, where the remnants of Islamic State-linked groups are still believed to be operating.
Among the IS-linked groups is the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) operating in Maguindanao provinces.
In 2017, the US military provided ISR support to the ground troops during the five-month battle of Marawi.
According to Metrea’s website, the firm is a "leading provider of effects-as-a-service to national security partners across multiple domains and over a dozen mission areas."
On its website, the firm listed several US defense agencies as customers and partners.
Among its services listed are turnkey airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (AISR), special mission aviation, air-to-air refueling, and advanced tactical rotary wing training.
It added that they have specialized maintenance teams deployed to austere, remote worldwide locations with over 7,500 missions and more than 170,000 accident-free flight hours.