Philippine Air Force A-29B Super Tucano aircraft damaged during landing

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has confirmed that one of its recently acquired Embraer Defense & Security A-29B Super Tucano trainer/light attack aircraft sustained “some damage” while landing at Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga Province.

In an open letter published on 8 July and addressed to the MaxDefense Philippines website – which first reported about it – the PAF noted that the incident took place when a Brazilian instructor from Embraer was flying the tandem-seat aircraft during “a routine maintenance equipment check flight” while the commander of 15th Strike Wing – to which the aircraft is assigned – was sitting in as a “passenger/observer”.

Neither of them sustained any injuries, and the structural integrity of the aircraft remains “very much intact”, said the PAF, adding that the damaged parts will be replaced by Embraer “at no cost” to the PAF. The platform is expected to re-enter service as soon as possible, it added.

The aircraft involved in the incident is one of the six Super Tucanos ordered in late 2017 and commissioned in October 2020.

The platforms are meant to supplement the service's Boeing (Rockwell) OV-10 Bronco ground-attack aircraft and are expected to be employed in several roles, including close air support, light attack, surveillance and reconnaissance, air-to-air interception, and counter-insurgency.

More recently, in March, the PAF revealed that it aims to acquire an additional 18 A-29B Super Tucanos by the end of 2024.

In the latest edition (Volume 5) of its Flight Path