Members of the Philippine Air Force assigned at Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base (MBEAB) are grieving due to the loss of an airman who died during a military exercise in Sibonga town in the southern part of Cebu province.

The exercise turned into a tragedy after Airman 2nd class Domingo Pangilinan was killed after he jumped into the sea and failed to surface.

Pangilinan was brought to Sibonga District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Col. Richard Sigaan of 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing told ABS-CBN News that Pangilinan could have miscalculated his jump.

"The distance from the chopper was only about four meters but the aircraft’s hovering blades creates a push effect on the water below and Pangilinan landed in the sea with his chest first, that's a bad jump, you should jump in a vertical position," said Sigaan.

Sigaan said that precautionary measures are always taken during water egress exercises and clarified that Pangilinan's death was a pure accident.

"It's part of the risks we have to take in this job," Sigaan said.

More than three hundred thousand worth of assistance will be given to Pangilinan's relatives who are based in San Jose, Batangas.

Assistance like mutual relief system, burial services and other benefits are already taken cared of by PAF.

Pangilinan's body was brought to MBEAB Chapel in Lapu-Lapu City.