Chinese Helicopter Flies Within 3 Meters of Philippines Aircraft Carrying Journalists

A Chinese Navy helicopter flew within three meters of a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft conducting a maritime domain awareness flight over Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the South China Sea on February 18.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) described the encounter as dangerous and a violation of international aviation regulations.

According to the PCG, the incident occurred at approximately 8:39 a.m. when a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-Navy) helicopter, identified by tail number 68, performed hazardous maneuvers near the Philippine aircraft. The BFAR flight, which included PCG personnel and journalists, was operating within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.

The Filipino pilot issued a radio warning, stating, “You are flying too close, you are very dangerous.”

The close proximity of the helicopter posed a serious safety risk, with PCG Spokesperson Jay Tarriela condemning the act as an “escalatory action” that disregarded international aviation safety norms set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The Philippines continues to assert its sovereignty and maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea despite increasing Chinese activities in disputed waters. The Scarborough Shoal remains a flashpoint in the South China Sea, where tensions between Manila and Beijing have escalated over territorial claims.

Earlier this month, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the U.S. conducted a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone to enhance regional security and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. The exercise followed Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s statement that he may remove a U.S. missile system if China halts its "aggressive and coercive behavior" in the South China Sea. Tensions have risen with repeated maritime confrontations, including arrests for unauthorized surveillance and reports of Chinese Coast Guard and Navy harassment.