US service member, 3 contractors killed in Philippines plane crash

A US military service member and three defense contractors were killed Thursday when their plane crashed in the Philippines, officials said.

The aircraft, which was contracted by the US military, had been carrying out intelligence and surveillance support when it went down in the Maguindanao del Sur province in the country’s south, US Indo-Pacific Command said.

“We can confirm no survivors of the crash,” officials said in a statement.

“The incident occurred during a routine mission in support of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation activities.”

The military didn’t reveal what type of aircraft was involved and said the cause of the wreck was still being investigated.

The names of the crew were also being withheld pending family notifications, officials said.