U.S. military plane hits road barrier during Philippine training, injuring five personnel

A United States subject level carrying 5 American unit deed a factual obstruction portion attempting to instrumentality disconnected from a roadworthy during a contingency grooming successful a bluish Philippine Province, injuring each those aboard, Philippine officials said connected Wednesday (February 25, 2026).

The aviator and 2 different American unit were brought to a infirmary for attraction aft Tuesday (February 24) afternoon's mishap successful a factual bypass roadworthy successful Laoac municipality successful Pangasinan Province. Two different injured unit were treated astatine the site, constabulary said successful an archetypal report.

The grooming that progressive a U.S. Air Force transport craft landing connected and taking disconnected from an “alternate landing zone” was planned and afloat coordinated with Philippine civilian, police, and subject authorities, 3 Philippine officials toldThe Associated Press, adding that the origin of the mishap was nether investigation. The 3 officials spoke to The AP on information of anonymity due to the fact that they were not authorised to sermon the mishap publicly.

The craft managed to onshore during the “supervised activity,” but swerved during takeoff, 1 of the 3 officials said, adding that specified unsocial grooming was needed to brace subject forces for each types of contingencies, including erstwhile regular airports and runways go inaccessible during typhoons and earthquakes.

U.S. forces are allowed to behaviour grooming with Filipino counterparts successful the Philippines nether a 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement. Large-scale associated combat grooming drills successful caller years person focused connected helping the Philippines support its territorial interests and beforehand state of navigation and overflight successful the South China Sea, which lies westbound of Pangasinan.

Confrontations betwixt the seashore defender and naval forces of China and the Philippines person flared successful caller years successful the disputed waters, which are claimed mostly by Beijing. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are besides progressive successful the long-simmering territorial standoffs.

The U.S. does not laic immoderate claims successful the contested waters. Still, it has repeatedly warned that it's obligated to support the Philippines nether a communal defence pact if Philippine forces, ships, and craft travel nether an equipped attack, including successful the South China Sea.