THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) announced today the recovery of its missing FA-50 fighter jet, tail number 002, in the vicinity of Mount Kalatungan in Bukidnon.
Tragically, both pilots were found dead inside the wreckage.
The aircraft, which went missing early Tuesday morning during a tactical night operation, was located by ground troops on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Colonel Ma. Consuelo Castillo, PAF Public Affairs Office chief, confirmed that the aircraft lost communication minutes before reaching its target area.
A search and rescue operation, involving the PAF, Philippine Army, and civilian volunteers, was launched following the aircraft’s disappearance. The operation, which prioritized the recovery of the pilots, utilized signals from the pilots’ personal locator beacons to pinpoint the possible location.
Despite challenging weather and terrain, PAF helicopters successfully deployed ground search teams.
Lieutenant General Luis Rex Bergante, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Eastern Mindanao Command, confirmed the discovery of the wreckage and the pilots’ remains around 11:00 a.m.
He described the aircraft as “totally wrecked.” Castillo later confirmed in a virtual interview that the aircraft was found after 10:00 a.m. and that all indications point to a crash.
Following the incident, the PAF has grounded its remaining 11 FA-50 fighter jets pending a thorough investigation.
The PAF stated that this was the first major incident involving their FA-50 fleet and expressed its commitment to supporting the families of the deceased pilots.
metrosundaily
