What happened
During a scheduled military exercise over the South China Sea, an aircraft departed from Cubi Point NAS at 04:28 local time. Operating under the call sign Stray 59, the flight carried personnel from the United States Air Force along with military members representing Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
While performing a low-altitude cruise, the aircraft struck the surface of the water at approximately 05:25 local time. The impact occurred in the vicinity of the Tabones Islands. Of the total occupants on board, 23 fatalities were recorded, though one crew member was successfully rescued from the scene.
Findings
Investigations into the incident concluded that the precise reason for the impact with the water could not be established with certainty.