An aircraft that crashed in Barangay Malatimon in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur Thursday was contracted by the US Department of Defense, the US Indo-Pacific Command Public Affairs Office said Friday. 

In a statement, the US Indo-Pacific Command said the aircraft was providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support “at the request of our Philippine allies.”

It said the crash occurred during a routine mission in support of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation activities.

“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 names of the crew are being withheld pending next of kin notification,” it said. 

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Rea Martin, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer of Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, earlier said the aircraft with body number N349CA crashed at 2 p.m. Thursday.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), meanwhile, said the aircraft, a Beechcraft King Air 300 with registration number N349CA, departed from Cebu and was en route to Cotabato City for an aerial survey when it crashed.

CAAP confirmed the flight was part of a routine mission in support of US-Philippine security cooperation activities.