Tragedy struck in the southern Philippines on Thursday when a U.S. military surveillance aircraft crashed, resulting in the loss of all four individuals on board. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command confirmed the incident, stating the plane, contracted by the Department of Defense, went down in Maguindanao del Sur province. The aircraft was conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations at the behest of the Philippine government as part of routine security cooperation efforts.

Image of the plane wreckage. (Sam Mala/UGC via AP)

The deceased include one U.S. service member and three defense contractors. Their identities are being withheld until their families are notified. The aircraft involved was identified as a U.S. Marine Corps Beechcraft King Air 350. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

Local reports indicated that residents witnessed smoke and heard an explosion prior to the plane’s impact, which occurred approximately half a mile from a group of farmhouses. Tragically, a water buffalo was also killed in the crash. The plane went down in a rice paddy, according to witness accounts.

A second image of the crash site. (Sam Mala/UGC via AP)

The U.S. has maintained a military presence in the southern Philippines for an extended period, assisting Filipino forces with training and advising in their fight against militant groups. This region is predominantly Muslim in a nation with a largely Catholic population.