A U.S. military aircraft crashed into a concrete barrier during a takeoff attempt from a roadway in Central Luzon, Philippines, on Tuesday (February 24), injuring several service members. The incident involved a U.S. Air Force C-146 Wolfhound, a special operations plane, and occurred during a joint training exercise with Philippine forces. The exercise aimed to practice operations in situations where traditional runways are inaccessible due to natural disasters like typhoons or earthquakes.
According to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, five crew members were injured in the crash. Two of the injured service members were transported to a local medical facility. One has been discharged, while the other remains in stable condition. Fortunately, no civilians were injured during the incident, which took place in Laoac, Pangasinan, just over an hour's drive from Clark Air Base.
The aircraft had successfully landed but veered off course during takeoff, striking the barrier. Photos released by the Philippine Department of National Defense showed the Wolfhound conducting what was described as the "first highway landing operation in the Philippines."
The U.S. military frequently deploys aircraft in the Philippines for humanitarian relief efforts, supported by the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows U.S. troops to train alongside Filipino forces. The incident is currently under investigation, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has not provided additional details.
The exercise took place amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly in the South China Sea, where China and the Philippines have ongoing territorial disputes. The U.S. has reaffirmed its commitment to defend the Philippines under a mutual defense treaty if its forces are attacked.
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