A Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jet with two crew members on board has gone missing during a night mission against communist rebels in the southern Mindanao region. The jet was flying “over land” on its way to the target area when it lost contact with other fighters in the group “minutes before reaching its target area”.
According to Air Force spokeswoman Colonel Consuelo Castillo, the jet was part of a “tactical night operation in support of our ground troops” fighting communist rebels in Mindanao’s Bukidnon province. Castillo declined to provide mission specifics but expressed optimism about the crew’s safety, saying “We are hopeful that we will still be able to recover” the aircraft and crew. “We are still very optimistic that they are safe.”
The Philippine Army spokesman Colonel Louie Dema-ala confirmed that the missing FA-50 was part of a squadron sent “to provide air support” to troops fighting communist rebels. Lieutenant-Colonel Francisco Garello of the 4th Infantry Division added that air support had been called in overnight during a firefight with the New People’s Army in a mountainous area.
The incident marks the first major incident involving the Philippine Air Force’s squadron of FA-50s, which have previously been used in exercises over the disputed South China Sea. An extensive search operation is underway, with the air force utilizing all available resources to locate the missing jet fighter aircraft.