A U.S. military-contracted aircraft tragically crashed in a rice field in the southern Philippines on Thursday, resulting in the loss of all four individuals onboard, according to officials from both the U.S. Embassy and the Philippines.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has confirmed that a light plane went down in Maguindanao del Sur province; however, further details have not yet been disclosed.

Kanishka Gangopadhyay, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy, indicated that the aircraft involved in the incident was contracted by the U.S. military. Additionally, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is expected to release a more comprehensive statement regarding the crash soon.

Local safety officer Ameer Jehad Tim Ambolodto reported that the bodies of the four individuals, believed to be foreign nationals, were recovered from the wreckage in the town of Ampatuan.

Provincial disaster-mitigation officer Windy Beaty mentioned that witnesses reported seeing smoke emanating from the aircraft and hearing an explosion before it descended rapidly, landing less than a kilometer from nearby farmhouses.

Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries among people in the vicinity of the crash site, which has been secured by military personnel, Beaty added.

However, local officials indicated that a water buffalo was killed in the incident as well.

U.S. military forces have been present at a Philippine military base in the southern region for several decades, assisting Filipino forces in their fight against Muslim militants. This area is home to a significant Muslim minority in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.