U.S. and Filipino troops respond after a cement truck overturned near Lal-lo Airport, Philippines, April 20, 2026. (Armed Forces of the Philippines)
American troops helped rescue a group of injured motorists following a cement truck crash this week near a training base in the Philippines.
Around 10,000 U.S. service members, along with another 7,000 from the Philippines and five other nations, kicked off the annual Balikatan “shoulder-to-shoulder” exercise that day and will train in the islands through May 9.
The crash occurred near Lal-lo Airport in the country’s north. The facility — also known as Cagayan North International Airport — is one of nine sites approved for use by U.S. forces under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
Photos show the upturned truck and American service members tending to victims nearby. The images were provided with a news release emailed Wednesday by Philippine army Col. Xerxes Trinidad, spokesman for the nation’s military.
U.S. and Filipino troops medevac civilians injured in a truck crash near Lal-lo Airport, Philippines, April 20, 2026. (Armed Forces of the Philippines)
U.S. and Filipino troops respond after a cement truck overturned near Lal-lo Airport, Philippines, April 20, 2026. (Armed Forces of the Philippines)
Four people were immediately removed from the truck after it lost control and plummeted into a ravine, according to the release. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital.
“Two others, initially trapped and assessed with life-threatening injuries, were later rescued and airlifted by a U.S. HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to a higher-level medical facility for advanced treatment,” the release said.
U.S. Marines in the area witnessed the incident and rendered initial assistance, the release said, adding that local troops reinforced rescue efforts and coordinated with police.
“All individuals involved were confirmed to be Filipino civilians, with no military personnel affected,” the release said.
