A Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jet, carrying two pilots, lost contact during a night combat mission in a southern province late Monday, sparking an extensive search and rescue operation, military officials confirmed Tuesday. The jet was supporting ground troops engaged in a counterinsurgency operation against communist rebels when communication was severed around midnight, just before reaching its target area.
The air force reported that other aircraft involved in the mission completed their assaults and safely returned to a base in central Cebu province. However, the missing FA-50’s fate remains unclear. For security reasons, officials have withheld specific details about the operation, which targeted guerrillas from the New People’s Army (NPA) in an undisclosed southern province.
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“We are hopeful of locating them and the aircraft soon and ask you to join us in prayer during this critical time,” said Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, air force spokesperson, in a statement. She declined to confirm whether emergency signals from the pilots’ locating transmitters had been detected but emphasized that the military remains “very optimistic” about their safety. The FA-50 is equipped with ejection capabilities, offering hope that the pilots could have escaped if the jet encountered trouble.
A military official, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press due to the sensitivity of the situation, confirmed that the incident occurred during an ongoing counterinsurgency effort in the south. The official lacked authorization to provide further details publicly.
The FA-50 fleet, consisting of 12 supersonic jets acquired from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. in 2015, represents a cornerstone of the Philippines’ military modernization program. Purchased under an 18.9 billion peso ($331 million) deal, the jets have been deployed for various missions, from combating insurgents to patrolling the contested South China Sea. It remains unclear whether the remaining FA-50s will be grounded pending the investigation into the disappearance.
Decades-Long Insurgency
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a rebellion for over five decades, making it one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies. Military estimates suggest that around 1,000 fighters remain active, weakened by years of battlefield losses, surrenders, and internal divisions. Peace negotiations, last brokered by Norway, collapsed under former President Rodrigo Duterte amid mutual accusations of ceasefire violations. A 2023 agreement to resume talks has yet to materialize under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Military Modernization Efforts
The missing jet is part of a fleet acquired to bolster the Philippines’ defense capabilities amid budget constraints that have long hampered modernization efforts. The country plans to purchase an additional 12 fighter jets from South Korea to further strengthen its air force, which also plays a ceremonial role in national events.
As the search continues, authorities have yet to speculate on the cause of the incident—whether mechanical failure, hostile action, or environmental factors. Updates are expected as rescue teams scour the rugged terrain of the southern province for signs of the aircraft and its crew.
