A C-146A Wolfhound of the United States Air Force was damaged during a joint exercise in the Philippines after striking a concrete barrier while attempting to take off from a road adapted as a runway.
The incident left five occupants injured, three of whom were taken to a hospital and two treated at the scene. No civilians were harmed.
According to the Associated Press, citing sources familiar with the matter, an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances of the incident. The aircraft, tail number 15-3086, had landed normally on the highway strip in Laoac, in Pangasinan province, but reportedly veered off course during takeoff. The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed that all crew members are safe.
The exercise was described by authorities as the first road landing operation conducted in the country and the second in all of Asia. According to the Philippine government, the activity is part of bilateral efforts to strengthen military interoperability, enhance disaster response capabilities, and reinforce national defense. Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. attended the aircraft’s arrival.
The presence of the C-146 Wolfhound in the region comes amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, where territorial disputes between the Philippines and China have intensified. Aircraft with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability, such as the Wolfhound — derived from the civilian Dornier 328 model — are considered strategic for operations on improvised runways, especially in scenarios where conventional air bases may be under threat.
Source: The Aviationist | Photo: Facebook – Department of National Defense Philippines | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
