MANILA: The Philippine air force grounded its OV-10 Bronco bomber planes yesterday after one crashed at sea but other aircraft were available for possible counterinsurgency strikes, an official said.
Air force spokesman Col. Miguel Okol said seven of the turboprop planes were grounded following the crash of an OV-10 late Sunday while preparing to land in southwestern Palawan province after a routine training flight. It was not immediately known if the two pilots survived. Authorities hope they managed to eject before the plane crashed.
Search teams have found parts of the plane, including a wheel, cargo bay door and tail cone, at sea about 10 km from the Palawan airport, Okol said.
President Benigno Aquino III has struggled with limited funds to try to modernize the military, one of Asia’s weakest, by acquiring new aircraft, warships and weapons with the help of Washington, a longtime ally.
The OV-10s, developed in the 1960s, have been used in the past to assault Muslim rebels and guard Philippine claims in disputed South China Sea areas off Palawan.