Manila, February 06 (HS): A major plane accident occurred in Maguindanao del Sur province of the Philippines on Thursday. A small private plane crashed in the Malatimon area of Ampatuan, killing all four people on board. The incident has been confirmed by the local police and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
At 2:30 pm local time, this Beech King Air 300 model plane crashed into a field during flight. According to reports, the plane collided with a carabao (water buffalo) during the flight, after which it lost balance and crashed. The plane was completely shattered in the accident.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has started investigating the accident. It is not yet clear how the plane collided with the carabao. Officials are investigating technical faults, possible pilot error and other factors.
Maguindanao del Sur security official Amir Jihad Tim Ambolodto has said that the bodies of four people were recovered from the wreckage. All appeared to be foreign nationals. Local officials said a buffalo on the ground also died as a result of the plane crash.
Local emergency services rushed to the spot soon after the accident and began rescue operations. According to eyewitnesses, the plane caught fire as soon as it fell, so none of the people on board could be saved.
Officials have said that a detailed report on the causes of the accident will be released after the investigation is completed. The incident has raised questions about the country’s aircraft safety system, and new security measures are being considered to avoid it.
US Embassy spokesman Kanishka Gangopadhyay said the plane that crashed in the southern province was contracted by the US military. He said the US Indo-Pacific Command would issue a statement on the plane crash later.
Hindusthan Samachar
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