By Desmond Nleya
Philippine military officials said on Tuesday that rescuers have found the wreckage of a missing fighter jet and the bodies of its two pilots.
“The PAF FA-50 aircraft reported missing has been located by ground troops in the vicinity of the Mt. Kalatungan Complex, Bukidnon, today, March 5, 2025,” the PAF said in a statement. “With deep regret and profound sadness, the PAF announces the loss of the two pilots aboard,” it added.
A Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jet with two pilots on board had gone missing during a combat mission in a southern province, where military forces are engaged in counterinsurgency operations against communist rebels.
Authorities had launched an extensive search and rescue operation, hoping to locate the pilots and determine what led to the aircraft’s disappearance. According to military officials, the FA-50 lost communication with other Air Force aircraft around midnight on March 4 as it was approaching its target area.
The jet was part of a coordinated assault mission supporting ground troops battling insurgents. While other aircraft successfully carried out their strikes and returned to an air base in Cebu province, the missing jet never reestablished contact.
“We are hopeful of locating them and the aircraft soon and ask you to join us in prayer during this critical time,” Philippine Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo had said yesterday, urging the public to keep the missing pilots in their thoughts.
Military search teams have been deployed to locate the missing aircraft and its crew. The FA-50 jets are equipped with emergency locating transmitters designed to emit signals in case of a crash or an ejection. However, Castillo did not confirm whether rescuers had detected any distress signals.
“We are still very optimistic that they are safe,” Castillo stated. The Philippine Air Force has not disclosed whether it will temporarily ground the FA-50 fleet pending an investigation.
Like all FA-50PH models, the missing aircraft is fitted with a flight data recorder—commonly referred to as a “black box”—which could provide crucial insights into what went wrong.
The Philippine Air Force has relied heavily on its FA-50 fleet for air support missions, making this disappearance a matter of serious concern. Officials are expected to provide updates as search operations progress.
Philippines FA-50 Fighter Jets
A Philippine military official, speaking anonymously due to a lack of clearance to discuss the matter publicly, confirmed that the aircraft was operating in a region where the military is actively engaged in counterinsurgency operations against the New People’s Army (NPA).
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a decades-long insurgency against the government. The missing FA-50 was tasked with providing regular air support for ongoing military operations under Unified Commands.
The aircraft, known for its precision strike capability, has also contributed to previous counterinsurgency efforts, targeting rebel positions in remote areas where ground troops face difficulties.
The military estimates that only about 1,000 communist rebels remain following years of defeats, internal divisions, and mass surrenders.
Efforts to negotiate peace, mediated by Norway, broke down under former President Rodrigo Duterte after both the government and the insurgents accused each other of violating ceasefire agreements with continued attacks.
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A Philippine Air Force FA-50PH. Wikipedia
Apart from counterinsurgency missions, FA-50 fighter jets have also been utilized for national events and maritime patrols. They have participated in joint air patrols alongside the United States, a treaty ally, over the disputed South China Sea.
This region has been the site of escalating tensions between China and the Philippines, particularly over contested reefs and territorial waters.
That said, this is the “first major incident involving” the Philippine Air Force’s fleet of FA-50 fighter jets, which were procured during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III.
The Philippines purchased 12 FA-50 multi-role fighter jets from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. in 2015 and aims to procure 12 more fighter jets from South Korea.
In 2015, an Indonesian T-50 Golden Eagle fighter jet, a close variant of the Philippine Air Force’s FA-50, crashed, killing two Indonesian pilots. Both aircraft are produced by Korea Aerospace Industries and share similar designs and capabilities.
Further, on July 19, 2022, an Indonesian Air Force T-50i fighter jet crashed in Central Java while conducting a nighttime training mission. The tragic incident resulted in the death of the pilot.
Meanwhile, in recent years, the Philippine military has experienced multiple fatal aircraft accidents. In April 2023, two navy pilots lost their lives when their Robinson R22 helicopter crashed near a market south of Manila during a training flight.
Earlier, in January 2023, a Marchetti SF260 turboprop plane went down in a rice field, resulting in the deaths of both Philippine Air Force pilots on board.
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