A tragic accident occurred on February 6, 2025, when a Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft, operated by US defence contractor Metrea, crashed in a rice field near Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, in the Philippines. All four individuals aboard, including one US service member, sadly lost their lives.
Metrea confirmed the crash in a statement, expressing profound sorrow over the incident. The company reported that the aircraft went down at approximately 1400 local time, and emergency teams were quickly dispatched to the scene. However, no survivors were found.
“The crash occurred near Ampatuan, and, tragically, all four people, including one US service member, were killed in the incident. The families of the crew members have been informed, and we are offering them full support,” Metrea stated.
The US Indo-Pacific Command confirmed the aircraft was conducting an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission at the request of Philippine authorities when the crash took place. This mission was part of ongoing US-Philippine security cooperation efforts.
Metrea has activated its emergency response plan and is working closely with local authorities to determine the cause of the accident. “The safety and wellbeing of our employees and customers remain our top priority,” the company added. “We will release more information as soon as it becomes available.”
The Beechcraft King Air 350 is a twin-turboprop aircraft commonly used for military and surveillance operations. Metrea provides services such as airborne surveillance and reconnaissance, which include supporting intelligence missions like the one involved in this tragic incident.
