Manila, Philippines (Agencies): Rescuers have located the wreckage of a Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jet along with the bodies of its two pilots in a mountainous area of southern Bukidnon province, days after it went missing during a nighttime combat mission against communist insurgents.
The jet, part of a fleet deployed to support military operations against suspected New People’s Army guerrillas near Cabanglasan town, lost communication with other aircraft before reaching its target. While the accompanying jets successfully completed their mission and returned to Cebu, the FA-50 never made it back.
Regional military commander Lt. Gen. Luis Rex Bergante described the aircraft as a “total wreck” when it was discovered by special forces in the dense jungle of Mount Kalatungan. The bodies of the two pilots were found near the debris, military spokesperson Lt. Col. Francisco Garello confirmed, though it remains unclear whether they attempted to eject before the crash.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, and the Philippine Air Force has grounded its remaining 11 FA-50s as a precaution. These jets were acquired from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. in a $331 million deal as part of a long-delayed military modernization program. The Philippines has been planning to purchase an additional 12 FA-50s to strengthen its air defense capabilities.
The crash underscores ongoing challenges in the country’s military modernization efforts, with authorities now focusing on determining the cause of the incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future.