PAF to lift grounding of FA-50 fleet this week after Bukidnon crash

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said Tuesday it will lift the grounding of the FA-50 fleet following a comprehensive inspection and weeks after the fatal crash of one unit in Bukidnon.

“As for the lifting of the administrative grounding of our aircraft currently, we are almost complete with our comprehensive inspection of our FA-50 fleet,” PAF spokesperson Colonel Ma. Consuela Castillo said in at press briefing.

“We are committed to bringing this fleet back to full operational status very soon. Hopefully within this week. So that we can get back to their essential missions of maritime patrol, airspace security, and support to ongoing focus military operations,” she added.

On March 4, the FA-50 fighter jet with tail number 002 went missing during a tactical night operation in support of ground troops, according to the PAF.  

“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,” Castillo earlier said.

On March 5, the aircraft was found wrecked with two cadavers in the vicinity of the Mt. Kalatungan Complex.

Two pilots identified as Major Jude Salang-Oy and First Lieutenant April John Dadulla were killed in the crash.

“Currently, we are awaiting the results of the voice and data extraction and assessment, which was done overseas. Our investigating team are also conducting the visual interviews of all personnel involved, not only on the air, but also on the ground,” Castillo said.

“At the same time, we are also looking at all the maintenance and history records of our aircraft,” she added.

Castillo said the PAF is committed to come up with a swift, impartial, and thorough investigation into the incident. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News