US Military-Contracted Plane Crashes in Philippines, Four Dead

A U.S. military-contracted plane crashed in a rice field in Maguindanao del Sur province, southern Philippines, on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines confirmed the crash, while U.S. Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay stated that the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command would provide further details. Rescue teams recovered the bodies of the victims, who appeared to be foreign nationals, although their identities remain unknown. Local authorities are investigating the crash, which reportedly involved the aircraft colliding with a water buffalo. The incident occurred near the farming municipality of Ampatuan, and police have yet to determine the cause of the crash. The plane's crash site was described as severe, with the aircraft reportedly cut in half.