A tragic plane crash in the southern Philippines has claimed the lives of four individuals, including a U.S. Marine from California. The Marine, identified as 22-year-old Sgt. Jacob M. Durham from Long Beach, was part of a routine mission aimed at providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support at the request of Philippine forces. The incident occurred on Thursday, and military officials announced the details on Sunday.
The aircraft, contracted by the U.S. military, went down in a rice field located in Maguindanao del Sur province. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines confirmed that the bodies of Durham and three defense contractors were recovered from the wreckage in Ampatuan town. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
Witnesses reported seeing smoke and hearing an explosion before the plane fell approximately half a mile from nearby farmhouses. U.S. forces have been stationed in the Philippines for decades, assisting local military efforts against various militant groups in the region, which is predominantly Roman Catholic with a significant Muslim minority.
Sgt. Durham served as an electronic intelligence and electromagnetic warfare analyst, assigned to the 1st Radio Battalion within the I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 2021 and earned his current rank just months before the crash. His service was recognized with several awards, including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.
Lt. Col. Mabel B. Annunziata, commanding officer of the 1st Radio Battalion, praised Durham for his composure, intelligence, and leadership qualities, emphasizing that he was well-respected and loved among his peers. The loss of Durham and the other individuals involved in the crash is a somber reminder of the risks faced by military personnel and contractors engaged in operations overseas. As investigations continue, the military community mourns the loss of those who served in this tragic event.