PAF defends SF-260 training aircraft after Batangas collision kills four

MANILA — The Philippine Air Force on Tuesday moved to reassure the public about the safety of its training aircraft fleet following a collision between two SF-260 planes in Batangas that claimed four pilot lives. PAF spokesperson Col. Alvin Jay Capinguian stated that the aircraft involved in the incident remained within prescribed operating parameters, notwithstanding their age of more than a decade. The spokesman emphasized that an aircraft's capability and airworthiness should not be gauged solely by its years in service, but rather by adherence to maintenance schedules and operating hour limits. The SF-260 trainers, originally acquired as new aircraft, have been maintained in accordance with international aviation standards and manufacturer specifications, according to the PAF official. The collision has prompted renewed scrutiny of the military's aging air assets and their continued deployment in operational training missions. Investigators are examining multiple factors that may have contributed to the incident as the PAF conducts a comprehensive safety review of its training operations.