Rescuers discovered the wreckage of a Philippine fighter jet and the bodies of its two pilots on Wednesday in a mountainous area in the southern part of the country. The jet had been deployed on a nighttime mission to combat communist guerrillas.
The FA-50 fighter jet lost communication with other air force aircraft during the mission after midnight on Tuesday, before reaching its target area in Bukidnon province. The other aircraft returned safely to an air base in Cebu province after completing their assault missions.
The jet had been deployed alongside other air force planes to provide support to ground troops engaged in combat with suspected New People’s Army guerrillas near Cabanglasan town in Bukidnon.
Regional military commander Lt. Gen. Luis Rex Bergante described the wreckage of the fighter jet as “a total wreck,” which was located by Filipino special forces in a jungle on Mount Kalatungan in Bukidnon.
A regional military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Francisco Garello, confirmed that the bodies of the two air force pilots were discovered near the wreckage of the jet, though he did not provide further details.
Pilots have the option to eject from the supersonic jets in case of emergencies, but the Philippine Air Force has stated that it is unclear whether the two pilots aboard the FA-50 ejected before the jet crashed.
The cause of the crash is also unknown at this time. The FA-50, a supersonic jet purchased from a South Korean company around ten years ago, is under investigation, according to the air force.
Following the incident, the Philippine Air Force grounded the remaining 11 FA-50 jets.
The Philippines began acquiring FA-50 multi-purpose fighter jets in 2015 from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. The 18.9 billion peso ($331 million) contract was part of the country’s military modernization program, which has faced delays due to funding issues. The Philippines also plans to purchase another 12 fighter jets from South Korea.
The military estimates that around 1,000 communist guerrillas remain active after decades of setbacks, surrenders, and internal conflicts. Peace talks, mediated by Norway, collapsed under former President Rodrigo Duterte after both sides accused each other of continuing deadly attacks during negotiations.
In 2023, the government and communist rebels agreed to resume peace talks aimed at resolving one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies, but under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the talks have yet to restart.
In addition to anti-insurgency operations, the jets have been utilized for various purposes, including major national events and patrolling the disputed South China Sea.