Philippine Super Huey Downed During Mindanao Relief Mission

Post by : Raina Nasser

Manila, 4 November 2025 — Philippine authorities confirmed that a military Super Huey helicopter assigned to Typhoon Kalmaegi relief operations went down in northern Mindanao on Tuesday. The aircraft was bound for the coastal city of Butuan when it crashed; investigators have not yet disclosed the circumstances.

The Eastern Mindanao Command said the helicopter was operating in support of humanitarian relief when the incident occurred. Search-and-recovery teams have been dispatched, but officials have not released passenger counts or confirmed any casualties.

The Super Huey is a mainstay of the Philippine Air Force’s disaster-response fleet, regularly used for transport and emergency missions. Its loss comes amid widespread flooding and power disruptions triggered by Typhoon Kalmaegi, which has displaced thousands across central and southern regions.

Photographs from Cebu and neighbouring provinces show homes under water and roads rendered impassable as response teams race to deliver aid. The military stated it remains committed to the relief effort and has mobilised additional aircraft to sustain operations despite the setback.

Officials said further information on the crash will be released once recovery operations are complete and next of kin have been notified.