Philippine fighter jet carrying 2 pilots goes missing during mission against insurgents in southern province

A Philippine aerial unit combatant pitchy carrying 2 pilots went missing during a nighttime combat battle successful enactment of crushed forces who were battling insurgents successful a confederate province, officials said Tuesday.

The FA-50 jet mislaid connection during the tactical ngo astir midnight connected Monday earlier reaching a people area. A hunt for the pitchy is underway.

"We are hopeful of locating them and the craft soon and inquire you to articulation america successful supplication during this captious time," Philippine aerial unit spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said.

CHINESE NAVY HELICOPTER FLIES WITHIN 10 FEET OF PHILIPINNE PATROL PLANE OVER DISPUTED SHOAL

Two Philippine Air Force FA-50 combatant jets alert during a associated patrol and grooming league with the U.S. implicit the South China Sea, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (Philippine Air Force via AP)

The different craft progressive successful the ngo returned safely to an aerial basal successful cardinal Cebu province, the aerial unit said, without offering further details owed to information reasons.

The incidental happened successful a southern Philippine province during an anti-insurgency ngo against communist guerrillas, a Philippine subject authoritative told The Associated Press.

US FLIES JOINT PATROL WITH THE PHILIPPINES NEAR SHOAL REGION GUARDED BY CHINA

Two Philippine Air Force FA-50 combatant jets alert with 2 U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber craft during a associated patrol and grooming league implicit the South China Sea connected Tuesday, Feb.4, 2025. (Philippine Air Force via AP)

It was not instantly wide if the different FA-50s would beryllium grounded aft the incident.

The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50s multi-purpose combatant jets from South Korea's Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. for 18.9 cardinal pesos, oregon $331 million, opening successful 2015. The acquisition was viewed astatine the clip arsenic the biggest woody nether a subject modernization programme that had been repeatedly stalled by a deficiency of funds.

A Philippine Air Force FA-50, left, and U.S. Air Force F-16 combatant jet, right, alert successful enactment during the US-Philippines associated aerial unit subject workout dubbed 'Cope Thunder' astatine Basa Air Base successful Pampanga connected April 11, 2024. (Getty Images)

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In summation to anti-insurgency missions, the jets person been utilized for assorted different activities, including large nationalist ceremonies and patrolling the disputed South China Sea.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.