Authorities reported Tuesday that a Philippine Air Force fighter jet with two pilots aboard disappeared during a nighttime combat operation assisting ground troops fighting rebels in a southern province.
Communication with the jet was lost around midnight on Monday during the tactical mission, before it arrived at its intended target. A search operation is currently in progress.
“We are optimistic about finding them and the aircraft quickly, and we ask for your prayers during this crucial period,” stated Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo, spokesperson for the Philippine Air Force.
The Air Force reported that the other aircraft involved in the mission safely returned to an air base in central Cebu province, but provided no further information for security reasons.
A Philippine military official informed The Associated Press that the incident occurred in while the jet was conducting an anti-insurgency mission against communist rebels.
It remains unclear whether the other FA-50 aircraft will be grounded following this incident.
The Philippines purchased 12 FA-50 multi-role fighter jets from Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. for 18.9 billion pesos, equivalent to $331 million, starting in 2015. At the time, this acquisition was considered the largest deal under a military modernization program that had been repeatedly delayed due to funding constraints.
Besides anti-insurgency operations, the jets have been utilized in various other capacities, including major national events and patrols in the contested South China Sea.