A US-contracted surveillance plane crashed in the Philippines, killing four

A DOD-contracted aircraft performing a "intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance" mission crashed in the Philippine province of Maguindanao del Sur, killing all four people on board, the US Indo-Pacific Command announced Thursday. According to the US Indo-Pacific Command, all four persons on board were killed, including one US military service member.

"The incident occurred during a routine mission in support of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation activities," U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement, noting that the aircraft was requested by Filipino allies.

A US defense official confirmed images from the accident scene, which show the wreckage of a Beechcraft King Air 350 in a rice field.

The official stated that the military man killed in the collision was a US Marine. It's unclear if the three defense contractors were also US citizens.

The crew members' names will be suppressed for at least 24 hours awaiting notification of next of kin.

Indo-Pacific Command said the Defense Department hired the twin-engine turboprop aircraft to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance at the Philippines' request. The incident occurred on a "routine mission," and the cause is being investigated.