Bodies of pilots extracted from FA-50 crash site in Bukidnon — 4ID

The bodies of the two pilots of the ill-fated FA-50 fighter jet have been extracted from the crash site in Mt. Kalatungan in Bukidnon, the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) said Thursday.

Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Garello, 4ID spokesperson, said the cadavers were recovered around 1 a.m., carried to Pangantucan in Bukidnon, and then transported to Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental.

“Successfully extracted na po siya, around midnight, around 1 a.m.. Nailabas na po siya from crash site going to pickup point in Pangantucan, Bukidnon. From there, the cadavers were transported to Cagayan de Oro City sa Barangay Lumbia,” he told reporters.

(They were successfully extracted, around midnight, around 1 a.m. They were brought out of the crash site going to the pickup point in Pangantucan, Bukidnon. From there, the cadavers were transported to Cagayan de Oro City in Barangay Lumbia.)

According to Garello, the cadavers were carried only by foot from the crash site because responders cannot use a vehicle in the timberland. The crash site is around five to six hours walk to the pickup point in Pangantucan.

Garello said he cannot disclose the status of the bodies of the pilots and referred the matter to the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The FA-50 fighter jet with tail number 002 went missing early Tuesday morning during a tactical night operation in support of ground troops, according to the PAF.

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“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,” PAF spokesperson Colonel Ma. Consuelo Castillo said.

On Wednesday morning, the aircraft was found totally wrecked with two cadavers in the vicinity of the Mt. Kalatungan Complex.

Castillo said the PAF refused to reveal the names of the pilots as the military still has to verify if the remains belong to them.

“No official release pa po from the PAF until we have identified and verified what are left of the remains that will be brought down,” she told GMA News Online in a message on Thursday.

After the incident, the PAF has grounded its FA-50 fleet with 11 remaining units and ensured a thorough investigation into the accident.

“We are committed to providing all the necessary support to the bereaved families during this difficult time,” the PAF earlier said, adding that the disappearance of the FA-50 fighter jet was the first major incident involving their aircraft.

Also on Thursday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he wants an immediate probe on what happened to the the FA-50 fighter jet.

“Agarang imbestigasyon din po ang inutos ng ating Pangulo diyan,'” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a press briefing.

(The President has called for an immediate probe into the incident.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News