U.S. Plane Hit by Gunfire in Philippines

ByABC News
January 31, 2002, 5:16 PM

W A S H I N G T O N, Jan. 31 -- An Air Force special operations plane was struck by small arms fire while flying low-level training exercises in a mountainous area in the north of Luzon island in the Philippines, a Pentagon official said today.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Davis said the MC-130H Combat Talon sustained minor damage but there were no injuries.

One bullet came up through the floor plate of the plane and between the legs of a crew member.

The incident occurred Wednesday at 7 p.m. local time, about 500 miles north of where joint U.S.-Filipino anti-terrorist operations began today on Basilan island. Davis said the incident appeared unrelated to that counterterrorism training.

The plane returned to Clark Air Base in the Philippines, where maintenance crews found two bullet holes.

The plane was flying as part of the "Balance Piston" exercises, in which U.S. forces provide Filipino troops training in combat, first aid and medical evacuation.