- A plane crash in the Philippines on Thursday killed a U.S. Marine from California, 22-year-old Sgt. Jacob M. Durham, and three defense contractors. The aircraft was conducting a routine intelligence mission for the Philippine military.
- The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with reports of smoke and an explosion before impact in a rice field near Ampatuan.
- Durham’s commanding officers praised the electronic intelligence analyst for his composure, intelligence and selfless leadership.
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Authorities identified a U.S. Marine from California as one of four people killed when a small plane contracted by the U.S. military crashed in the southern Philippines. Sgt. Jacob M. Durham, 22, of Long Beach, California, died Thursday, Feb. 6, when the aircraft went down in a rice field near Ampatuan, a town in Maguindanao del Sur province.
Marine officials at Camp Pendleton today identified Sgt. Jacob M. Durham as a U.S. Marine involved in a fatal aircraft incident on Feb. 6 in the Philippines. https://t.co/qESLI0mOlA
— ABC 10News San Diego (@10News) February 9, 2025
Three defense contractors were also killed.
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What was the purpose of the flight?
The plane was conducting a routine intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission at the request of the Philippine military, according to officials at Camp Pendleton in California.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command confirmed that the flight was part of ongoing U.S.-Philippine security cooperation activities.
What do we know about the crash?
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. However, a local disaster officer reported that residents saw smoke and heard an explosion before the plane hit the ground, about half a mile from a cluster of farmhouses.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines confirmed that all four bodies were recovered from the wreckage in Maguindanao del Sur.
Who was Sgt. Jacob M. Durham?
Durham was an electronic intelligence and electromagnetic warfare analyst with the 1st Radio Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group.
He joined the Marine Corps in January 2021 and was promoted to sergeant on Feb. 1, 2025. His awards and decorations include:
- Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.
- National Defense Service Medal.
- Meritorious Mast.
- Naval Aircrew Insignia.
Lt. Col. Mabel B. Annunziata, Durham’s commanding officer, described him as a Marine who embodied composure, intelligence and selfless leadership.
Why is the US military operating in the Philippines?
The U.S. military has maintained a presence in the southern Philippines for decades, providing training and intelligence support to Filipino forces combating insurgent groups.
The region has historically been home to militant activity, and U.S. troops operate in an advisory capacity.
What happens next?
The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
Officials have not released further details on the aircraft involved or whether additional safety reviews will be conducted following the incident.
