US military-contracted plane crashes in Philippines, four killed

A plane under US military contract crashed in a rice field in southern Philippines on Thursday, leading to the death of all four occupants, as confirmed by the US Embassy and Philippine officials.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Philippines verified the light aircraft's crash in Maguindanao del Sur province, though specific details were not immediately available.

Meanwhile, according to US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay's statement to The Associated Press, the aircraft was under US military contract, and the US Indo-Pacific Command would release a statement regarding the incident.

Ameer Jehad Tim Ambolodto, a safety officer from Maguindanao del Sur, reported that rescue teams recovered four bodies from the wreckage, all appearing to be foreign nationals. The identities of the deceased remain unknown. Municipal rescue worker Rhea Martin confirmed the discovery of four fatalities at the secured crash site. She told AFP: "The bodies were found near the plane," and added: "The plane was cut in half."

Police are investigating the cause of the fixed-wing aircraft crash near Ampatuan, a farming municipality in Mindanao island.

During the incident, the aircraft collided with a water buffalo, leaving the animal severely injured, according to regional police spokesman Jopy Ventura's statement to AFP.