A Philippine fighter jet has gone missing during a night mission supporting ground troops fighting Communist insurgents in a southern province. The FA-50 jet lost contact around midnight on Monday, shortly before it was supposed to reach its target area.
While other aircraft involved in the operation returned safely to their base in Cebu province, the fate of the missing jet and its two pilots remains uncertain. A military official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the incident occurred during a counterinsurgency operation against the New People’s Army guerrillas.
Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo expressed hope for the safe recovery of the pilots and the aircraft. She asked the public to join in prayer during this critical time. The pilots have the option to eject from the jet in case of an emergency, which could aid in their rescue if their emergency locators are activated. However, Castillo did not confirm whether any signals from the emergency devices have been detected.
The FA-50 jets are part of a fleet of 12 multi-role fighter jets acquired from South Korea starting in 2015, marking a significant investment in the Philippines’ military modernization efforts. The country plans to purchase another 12 jets in the future.
The military estimates that about 1,000 Communist guerrillas remain active in the region, despite years of conflict and setbacks for the insurgents. Efforts to negotiate peace have faced challenges, especially after talks collapsed under former President Rodrigo Duterte. Although there were plans to resume discussions in 2023, progress has stalled under the current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In addition to anti-insurgency missions, these fighter jets have been used for various purposes, including national ceremonies and patrolling the South China Sea. As the search for the missing jet continues, the military remains optimistic about the pilots’ safety and hopes for a quick resolution to this troubling situation.