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Yahoo
10-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
American marine dies in Philippines plane crash
A U.S. Marine from California was one of four people who died after a military plane crashed into a rice field while flying over the Philippines. The plane was contracted by the U.S. military and was carrying three defense contractors along with the marine, who was identified by officials as Sergeant Jacob Durham, 22, of Long Beach. The aircraft was reportedly undertaking a routine mission to provide "intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support at the request of our Philippine allies," according to a statement from Camp Pendleton officials. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. The three defense contractors also died in the wreck. The plane did not strike anyone else when it hit the ground, though it did kill a water buffalo. 'We can confirm no survivors of the crash. There were four personnel on board, including one U.S. military service member and three defense contractors," the US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement. Metrea, a military contracting company, issued a statement acknowledging that some of its employees died in the crash. 'It is with deep regret we are able to confirm that there were no survivors. The families of our crew have been informed and we're providing full support,' the statement said. 'Metrea has enacted its emergency response plan and is working closely with all relevant government authorities to establish the cause of the accident. The safety and wellbeing of our employees and customers continues to be our top priority.' The plane crashed in Maguindanao del Sur province, near the town of Ampatuan, according to the nation's Civil Aviation Authority. Residents in the town reportedly saw the plane smoking while it was in the air. They then heard an explosion and the plane dropped out of the sky, according to the Associated Press. The U.S. Marine who died, Durham, had been trained as an electronic intelligence/electromagnetic warfare analyst and was assigned to the 1st Radio Battalion, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, according to military officials. He joined the USMC in January 2021. 'Sgt. Durham embodied the highest traditions of the Marine Corps — exemplifying composure, intelligence, and selfless leadership,' Lieutenant Colonel Mabel Annunziata, commanding officer of 1st Radio Battalion, said in a statement. 'He was deeply respected and loved by his fellow Marines.' The U.S. military has maintained a presence in the Philippines for decades.
The Independent
10-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
American marine dies in Philippines plane crash
A U.S. Marine from California was one of four people who died after a military plane crashed into a rice field while flying over the Philippines. The plane was contracted by the U.S. military and was carrying three defense contractors along with the marine, who was identified by officials as Sergeant Jacob Durham, 22, of Long Beach. The aircraft was reportedly undertaking a routine mission to provide "intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support at the request of our Philippine allies," according to a statement from Camp Pendleton officials. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. The three defense contractors also died in the wreck. The plane did not strike anyone else when it hit the ground, though it did kill a water buffalo. 'We can confirm no survivors of the crash. There were four personnel on board, including one U.S. military service member and three defense contractors," the US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement. Metrea, a military contracting company, issued a statement acknowledging that some of its employees died in the crash. 'It is with deep regret we are able to confirm that there were no survivors. The families of our crew have been informed and we're providing full support,' the statement said. 'Metrea has enacted its emergency response plan and is working closely with all relevant government authorities to establish the cause of the accident. The safety and wellbeing of our employees and customers continues to be our top priority.' The plane crashed in Maguindanao del Sur province, near the town of Ampatuan, according to the nation's Civil Aviation Authority. Residents in the town reportedly saw the plane smoking while it was in the air. They then heard an explosion and the plane dropped out of the sky, according to the Associated Press. The U.S. Marine who died, Durham, had been trained as an electronic intelligence/electromagnetic warfare analyst and was assigned to the 1st Radio Battalion, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, according to military officials. He joined the USMC in January 2021. 'Sgt. Durham embodied the highest traditions of the Marine Corps — exemplifying composure, intelligence, and selfless leadership,' Lieutenant Colonel Mabel Annunziata, commanding officer of 1st Radio Battalion, said in a statement. 'He was deeply respected and loved by his fellow Marines.' The U.S. military has maintained a presence in the Philippines for decades.
The Independent
10-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Marine from California named as one of for people killed in Philippines plane crash
A U.S. Marine from California was identified by military officials Sunday as one of four people killed when a plane contracted by the U.S. military crashed in a rice field in the southern Philippines. Sgt. Jacob M. Durham died Thursday in the crash of an aircraft that was conducting a routine mission 'providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support at the request of our Philippine allies,' officials at Camp Pendleton, California, said in a statement. Officials said the cause of the crash was under investigation. U.S. forces have been deployed in a Philippine military camp in the country's south for decades to help provide training and advice to Filipino forces battling Muslim militants. The region is home to minority Muslims in the largely Roman Catholic nation. Three defense contractors also were killed in the crash, military officials have said. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines confirmed the crash of a light plane in Maguindanao del Sur province. The bodies of the four people were retrieved from the wreckage in Ampatuan town, said Ameer Jehad Tim Ambolodto, a safety officer of Maguindanao del Sur. Windy Beaty, a provincial disaster-mitigation officer, told The Associated Press on Thursday that she received reports that residents saw smoke coming from the plane and heard an explosion before the aircraft plummeted to the ground less than a kilometer (about half a mile) from a cluster of farmhouses. Durham's age and the California city where he was from were not included in the statement. Officials did not immediately respond to emails requesting that information. He was trained as an electronic intelligence/electromagnetic warfare analyst assigned to 1st Radio Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, officials said. He joined the Marines in January 2021 and was promoted to his current rank on Feb. 1. Durham's awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, a Meritorious Mast, and Naval Aircrew Insignia, officials said. 'Sgt. Durham embodied the highest traditions of the Marine Corps — exemplifying composure, intelligence, and selfless leadership," Lt. Col. Mabel B. Annunziata, commanding officer of 1st Radio Battalion, said in the statement. 'He was deeply respected and loved by his fellow Marines.'
NBC News
10-02-2025
- General
- NBC News
U.S. Marine from California identified as one of 4 people killed in Philippines plane crash
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A U.S. Marine from California was identified by military officials Sunday as one of four people killed when a plane contracted by the U.S. military crashed in a rice field in the southern Philippines. Sgt. Jacob M. Durham, 22, of Long Beach, died Thursday in the crash of an aircraft that was conducting a routine mission 'providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support at the request of our Philippine allies,' officials at Camp Pendleton, California, said in a statement. Officials said the cause of the crash was under investigation. Three defense contractors were also killed in the crash, military officials have said. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines confirmed the crash of a light plane in Maguindanao del Sur province. The bodies of the four people were retrieved from the wreckage in Ampatuan town, said Ameer Jehad Tim Ambolodto, a safety officer of Maguindanao del Sur. U.S. forces have been deployed in a Philippine military camp in the country's south for decades to help provide training and advice to Filipino forces battling Muslim militants. The region is home to minority Muslims in the largely Roman Catholic nation. Windy Beaty, a provincial disaster-mitigation officer, told The Associated Press on Thursday that she received reports that residents saw smoke coming from the plane and heard an explosion before the aircraft plummeted to the ground about half a mile from a cluster of farmhouses. Durham was trained as an electronic intelligence/electromagnetic warfare analyst assigned to 1st Radio Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, officials said. He joined the Marines in January 2021 and was promoted to his current rank on Feb. 1. Durham's awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, a Meritorious Mast, and Naval Aircrew Insignia, officials said. 'Sgt. Durham embodied the highest traditions of the Marine Corps — exemplifying composure, intelligence, and selfless leadership,' Lt. Col. Mabel B. Annunziata, commanding officer of 1st Radio Battalion, said in the statement. 'He was deeply respected and loved by his fellow Marines.'
Fox News
10-02-2025
- General
- Fox News
Marine identified as victim of surveillance flight that crashed in Philippines
The Marine who died alongside three defense contractors last Thursday when their surveillance flight crashed in the Philippines has been identified as Sgt. Jacob M. Durham, according to officials. Last week, a Department of Defense-contracted aircraft went down in the southern province of Maguindanao del Sur while "providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support at the request of our Philippine allies," according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. There were no survivors, officials said, who added that there were four personnel on the plane, including a U.S. military service member. On Sunday, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command identified Durham as the Marine on the plane. The three contractors have not been identified. The California native was trained as an electronic intelligence/electromagnetic warfare analyst and assigned to the 1st Radio Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force. In a press release, Indo-Pacific Command said Durham joined the Marine Corps in January 2021 and had just been promoted to his current rank on Feb. 1. Durham earned numerous awards and decorations, including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, a Meritorious Mast and Naval Aircrew Insignia. "We mourn the loss of Sgt. Jacob Durham, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country," said Lt. Col. Mabel B. Annunziata, commanding officer of 1st Radio Battalion. "Sgt. Durham embodied the highest traditions of the Marine Corps – exemplifying composure, intelligence, and selfless leadership. He was deeply respected and loved by his fellow Marines. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and his fellow Marines during this profoundly difficult time." The aircraft involved in the crash was a Marine Corps Beechcraft King Air 350, a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News. Military officials say the plane crashed during a routine mission in support of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation activities. Officials added that the aircraft was providing surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance support for the ally nation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
