Philippine Air Force in Pursuit of Lost Fighter Jet
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Synopsis
The Philippine Air Force is actively searching for an FA-50 fighter jet that vanished during a tactical night operation shortly after midnight on Tuesday. The aircraft lost contact before reaching its target area, prompting extensive search efforts to ensure the safety of the crew.
Key Takeaways
- The PAF is searching for a missing FA-50 fighter jet.
- Communication was lost just before reaching the target area.
- Search operations are being conducted with all available resources.
- The incident marks the first major issue with the FA-50S squadron.
- Joint air patrols with the U.S. have increased regional tensions.
Manila, March 4 (NationPress) The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has initiated a search operation for an FA-50 fighter jet that disappeared shortly after midnight on Tuesday during a tactical night operation.
The aircraft lost communication with the rest of the squadron involved in the mission a minute before arriving at the target zone, according to a statement from the PAF.
Other aircraft made several attempts to regain contact with the missing jet before returning to Mactan in Cebu province, located in the central Philippines.
According to the statement, the Philippine Air Force is undertaking comprehensive search operations, deploying all available resources to find the missing fighter jet.
The PAF emphasized that its main priority is the safe return of the jet's crew members. “We are optimistic about locating them and the aircraft soon,” the PAF stated, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Air Force spokesperson Colonel Consuelo Castillo informed the media that this incident marks the first major occurrence involving the FA-50S squadron, which has previously taken part in exercises over the disputed South China Sea.
The Philippines has procured a total of twelve of these fighter jets from South Korea in the last decade.
Colonel Castillo mentioned that the jet was flying over land on its way to a specified target area when it went missing during a tactical night operation meant to support ground troops.
She did not provide additional details regarding the specifics of the mission or its exact location, except to confirm that the aircraft took off from Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base, which shares a runway with the airport in Cebu, the nation's second-largest city.
“We remain hopeful that we will recover both the aircraft and the crew,” Castillo said. “We are optimistic that they are safe.”
In an official communication, the Air Force reiterated that it was conducting extensive and thorough search operations, utilizing all available resources to locate the missing fighter jet.
The FA-50s have been engaged in joint air patrols with the United States over the contested South China Sea, where tensions have risen between China and the Philippines concerning territorial claims over reefs and waters.
