CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr. personally visited the wake of two Air Force pilots who were killed in an aircraft mishap during a military pilot training flight in Tuba, Benguet on May 20, 2026. The visit was conducted on May 22 at the Philippine Air Force Mortuary at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base (CJVAB) in Pasay City, where General Brawner paid his respects and conveyed his condolences to the families of the fallen officers.
The two pilots — First Lieutenant Ruth Angelique R. Pasos PAF and Second Lieutenant Cherky E. Embudo PAF — were on a routine military pilot training flight when the accident occurred. Their deaths prompted an outpouring of tributes from within the AFP, with the country's top military official personally presiding over the condolence visit to honor their service.
Two Female Pilots Killed During Training Exercise in Tuba, Benguet
The mishap occurred on May 20, 2026, in the mountainous municipality of Tuba in the province of Benguet, located in the Cordillera Administrative Region of northern Luzon. The aircraft involved was on a military pilot training flight at the time of the incident, according to the AFP's Public Affairs Office.
First Lieutenant Pasos and Second Lieutenant Embudo were both officers of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). Details about the specific aircraft type and the exact cause of the crash have not yet been disclosed in the initial AFP statement. Investigations into the circumstances of the mishap are expected to be conducted by the AFP and the PAF.
Tuba, Benguet is situated near the highly elevated terrain of the Cordillera mountain range, an area that has historically posed navigational and meteorological challenges for aviation operations. The location of the incident has not been further elaborated upon in the released statement.
General Brawner Visits Mortuary at Villamor Air Base on May 22
On the evening of May 22, 2026, General Brawner proceeded to the Philippine Air Force Mortuary at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to personally pay his respects to the remains of the two fallen officers. The visit was confirmed through an official statement released by the AFP's Chief of the Public Affairs Office, Colonel Xerxes A. Trinidad.
During the visit, General Brawner honored the remains of 1Lt. Pasos and 2Lt. Embudo and recognized what the AFP described as their "dedication, courage, and faithful service to the nation." He likewise conveyed the solidarity of the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines with the grieving families during what officials described as an extremely difficult time.
Members of the AFP's leadership and personnel also joined in extending condolences to the bereaved families, in keeping with the military's tradition of honoring fallen members through formal and personal expressions of solidarity.
AFP Statement Honors Service and Sacrifice of the Two Officers
In the official statement released by the AFP Public Affairs Office on May 22, 2026, the Armed Forces expressed deep grief over the loss of the two airwomen and reaffirmed the institution's commitment to standing beside their families.
"The AFP continues to stand in solidarity with the families of the fallen airmen as the nation mourns their loss and honors their service. Their courage, dedication, and sacrifice in the line of duty will remain a lasting testament to the professionalism and commitment of Filipino military aviators in safeguarding the country and its people."
The statement was released under the authority of Colonel Xerxes A. Trinidad, Chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office. No additional details about the ongoing investigation into the crash were included in the official release at the time of publication.
First Female Military Aviators Among Those to Die in Service
The deaths of 1Lt. Pasos and 2Lt. Embudo represent a significant loss for the Philippine Air Force's pilot training program. As female military aviators, both officers were part of a growing cohort of women who have entered the ranks of the PAF's flying corps in recent years, following the gradual opening of combat and aviation roles to women in the AFP.
The Philippine Air Force has made steady progress in integrating women into its pilot training programs as part of broader AFP modernization and gender inclusion efforts. The loss of two female officers in an active training flight underscores both the risks inherent to military aviation and the equal sacrifice borne by men and women in uniform.
The specific training program or unit to which the two officers were assigned has not been identified in the official AFP statement released as of May 22, 2026.
Nation Called to Mourn and Recognize Military Aviators' Sacrifice
The AFP's official statement called upon the Filipino public to mourn the loss of the two airwomen and to recognize their sacrifice as emblematic of the broader commitment of Filipino military aviators to national service. The institution described their deaths as a "lasting testament" to the professionalism of the PAF.
Military deaths during training operations, while not uncommon in the context of high-risk aviation exercises, carry significant weight within the AFP and in the broader national defense establishment. The Philippine Air Force regularly conducts pilot training operations across the country as part of its program to build and sustain a pool of qualified military aviators.
The AFP has not yet released a formal timeline for any investigation or board of inquiry into the May 20 mishap. Updates on the findings of any formal investigation are expected to be disclosed through official AFP channels in the coming days or weeks.
Formal Rites and Burial Arrangements Pending Official Announcement
As of the May 22 statement, the AFP had not yet announced the schedule for formal military rites or burial arrangements for 1Lt. Pasos and 2Lt. Embudo. The remains of both officers were at the Philippine Air Force Mortuary at CJVAB in Pasay City, where the AFP Chief's condolence visit took place.
Military personnel killed in the line of duty, including those who perish during sanctioned training operations, are typically accorded full military honors in keeping with AFP protocols. The specific arrangements and honors to be extended to 1Lt. Pasos and 2Lt. Embudo are expected to be announced by the Philippine Air Force in subsequent official communications.
The AFP's Public Affairs Office is the official source of information on the incident and any developments related to the investigation, the burial arrangements, and the formal tributes to the two fallen officers. Members of the public and the media are directed to monitor AFP official channels for further updates.
The Philippine Air Force, a major branch of the AFP, is responsible for aerial defense and aviation operations across the country, including pilot training programs designed to sustain the service branch's operational readiness. The loss of any officer during training is treated as a matter of serious institutional concern and prompts formal review processes within the AFP.
Photo credit: Photo by SSg Ambay PA / Public Affairs Office, AFP