The Philippine Air Force (PAF) announced on Tuesday that one of its jet fighters, an FA-50, went missing while conducting Tactical Night Operations over the airspace of Cebu province.

In a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo, Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the aircraft lost communication with the rest of the flight involved in the mission minutes before reaching the target area around midnight.

“The other aircraft repeatedly attempted to re-establish contact with the missing aircraft until their return to Mactan, Cebu,” Castillo said. 

Castillo said the PAF is already conducting extensive search operations —utilizing all available resources — to locate the missing jet fighter.

The PAF remains optimistic that the pilots are still safe.

“Our primary concern is the safe return of our aircrew. We are hopeful of locating them and the aircraft soon, and ask you to join us in prayer during this critical time,” Castillo said. 

“We are hopeful that we will still be able to recover. We are more concerned about the safety of the aircrew right now, and we are still very optimistic that they are safe,” she added. 

Castillo said this was the major incident involving a PAF jet fighter.

“This is the first major incident involving our fighter aircraft. Currently, we cannot disclose yet the tail number of the aircraft,” she said.

Castillo said the PAF’s operation was part of its “regular support to the ongoing operations” of the military’s unified commands.

Supporting military ops

Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala confirmed to DAILY TRIBUNE that the PAF’s missing jet fighter was among the aerial support for the military conducting an operation against members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon, on Monday midnight.

“Yes, they are providing close air support to our engaged troops on the ground,” Dema-ala said in a Viber message, when asked if the missing aircraft was supporting the ground operation against the communist rebels.  

The PAF’s aircraft was reported missing before dawn on Tuesday.

In a separate phone interview, 4th Infantry Division spokesperson Major Francisco Gallergo Jr. said the 403rd Infantry Brigade was conducting focused military operations against the NPA’s North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCRMC) in Barangay Iba, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.

“NPAs are always on the run. They are always mobile, so they are only staying in the area on days,” he told DAILY TRIBUNE.

Gallergo confirmed the army requested close air support as they were going after more or less 30 to 60 NPA members.

“Our forces requested air support for our [ground] assets to preserve our forces and avoid casualties. This is critical to neutralizing the position of the Communist Terrorist Group or CTGs,”he said.

Gallergo said the military is currently conducting pursuit operations and tracking the movements of the CTG remnants.

No casualties have been reported as of this press time, he said.

The PAF’s FA-50 has long-range detection, advanced avionics, and various weapons that can perform defense, strike, and jet training missions.

It was used during the Marawi siege and various combat missions of the PAF.