PAF’s FA-50 fighter jet goes missing

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday said its FA-50 fighter jet went missing during a tactical night operation in support of ground troops.

In a press briefing, PAF spokesperson Colonel Maria Consuelo Castillo said the aircraft went missing early Tuesday morning after it lost communication with the rest of the flight.

“Shortly after midnight on March 4, 2025, an FA-50 fighter jet, went missing during a Tactical Night Operations. The aircraft lost communication with the rest of the flight involved in the mission minutes before reaching the target area,” she said.

According to Castillo, the other aircraft repeatedly tried to re-establish contact with the missing aircraft until their return to Mactan, Cebu.

She said there were two pilots for every aircraft in the operation.

She added the pilots were wearing personal locator beacons but she refused to divulge more information if they are emitting signals.

According to the PAF official, the disappearance of the FA-50 fighter jet was the first major incident involving their fighter aircraft.

“The PAF is conducting extensive and thorough search operations, utilizing all available resources, to locate the missing jet fighter aircraft. Our primary concern is the safe return of our aircrew,” she said.

“We are hopeful of locating them and the aircraft soon, and ask you to  join us in prayer during this critical time,” she added.

Castillo said the PAF remains optimistic that the pilots are safe.

“We are hopeful that we will still be able to recover. We are more concerned about the safety of the aircrew right now. And we are still very optimistic that they are safe,” she said.

Authorities have dispatched a search and rescue team to Mt. Kalatungan in Bukidnon, as it is being considered a probable crash site for the missing aircraft, according to Lieutenant General Luis Rex Bergante, Commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command.

In a phone patch interview, Bergante confirmed that the deployment was based on available assessments pointing to the area as a possible location of the crash.

Meanwhile, unverified reports have emerged indicating that the two pilots aboard may have survived. 

Some sources indicate that traces of the pilots' emergency beacons were detected, fueling hope of their survival.

However, Bergante has yet to officially confirm these reports as the search and rescue operation is still ongoing. — AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News