A Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jet carrying two pilots went missing during a night combat mission in a southern province, Fox News reported, citing officials.
The jet lost communication around midnight on Monday while supporting ground forces engaged in an anti-insurgency operation against alleged guerrillas in a southern Philippine province. The FA-50 jet was part of a tactical mission when it lost contact before reaching its target area.
A search and rescue operation is currently underway to locate the missing aircraft and its two pilots, according to Philippine Air Force spokesperson Colonel Ma Consuelo Castillo.
We are hopeful of locating them and the aircraft soon and ask you to join us in prayer during this critical time.
Other aircraft involved in the mission returned safely to an air base in central Cebu province, though further details were withheld for security reasons.
The FA-50 jets, acquired from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., have been a key component of the Philippines’ military modernisation program. The country purchased 12 FA-50s for 18.9 billion pesos ($331 million) starting in 2015.
Besides anti-insurgency missions, the FA-50s have been used for national ceremonies and patrolling the disputed South China Sea, where the Philippines faces territorial challenges.
