Tue Mar 04 16:58:58 UTC 2025: ## Philippine Air Force Fighter Jet Missing After Night Combat Mission
**Manila, Philippines –** A Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jet, carrying two pilots, has gone missing during a night combat mission in support of ground forces battling communist insurgents in a southern province. The aircraft lost contact with other air force aircraft around midnight Monday, March 3, 2025, before reaching its target area. The other aircraft returned safely to an air base in Cebu.
An extensive search and rescue operation is underway. While Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo expressed optimism about the pilots’ safety and urged prayers, she declined to confirm whether emergency locator transmitter signals have been detected. The pilots could have ejected, increasing the chances of rescue if their emergency beacons are functioning.
The incident occurred during a counterinsurgency operation against New People’s Army guerrillas. A military official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation, confirmed the location as a southern province.
The FA-50s are part of a larger military modernization program, with the Philippines having acquired 12 of these jets from South Korea since 2015. Plans are in place to acquire another 12. The jets have been used in various roles, including national ceremonies and South China Sea patrols, in addition to counter-insurgency operations. Peace talks between the government and communist rebels, aimed at ending decades of conflict, remain stalled. The military estimates around 1,000 communist guerrillas remain active. It is unclear whether the remaining FA-50s will be grounded pending the investigation.
First Piper 