5-3-2025 (MANILA) Wreckage of a missing Philippine fighter aircraft and the remains of its two pilots have been discovered in the challenging terrain of Mount Kalatungan, military officials confirmed yesterday.
The FA-50 combat jet, which vanished whilst providing aerial support for ground troops engaged with communist insurgents, was located at approximately 11:00 on Wednesday morning, according to Lieutenant General Luis Rex Bergante, commander of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command.
“The aircraft was completely destroyed. It crashed through the mountain’s tree canopy,” Bergante told reporters. “Though the pilots had attempted to eject with their parachutes, both servicemen were discovered within the wreckage.”
Following the tragic discovery, the Philippine Air Force announced an immediate grounding of its entire FA-50 fleet pending a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Colonel Ma. Consuelo Castillo, PAF spokesperson, emphasised the importance of balancing thoroughness with operational readiness, noting the critical role these aircraft play in maritime patrols, particularly in contested areas of the South China Sea.
Search teams had faced extraordinary challenges locating the downed aircraft on Mount Kalatungan, the Philippines’ fifth-highest peak at 2,880 metres. Rescue operations were complicated by dense fog, difficult terrain, and security concerns about communist rebel activity in the region, which prompted a temporary suspension of overnight search efforts.
The jet had been participating in military operations against the New People’s Army—a long-running Maoist insurgency now thought to number fewer than 2,000 fighters—when it lost contact with companion aircraft just minutes before reaching its intended target zone in northern Mindanao.
This marks what Castillo described as the “first major incident” involving the squadron of FA-50s, which the Philippines acquired from South Korea over the past decade. The combat jets have featured prominently in joint air patrols with American forces over disputed South China Sea territories, where tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated significantly in recent months.
The defence establishment is currently considering a proposal to purchase an additional 12 FA-50 jets, according to military officials.
“We pledge to provide all necessary support to the bereaved families during this profoundly difficult period,” Castillo stated. “We respectfully request the nation’s prayers for our fallen pilots, whose service and heroism we deeply honour.”
