Mount Kalatungan, Bukidnon — The wreckage of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) FA-50 fighter jet that went missing on Tuesday have been found, says Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Eastern Mindanao Command.
AFP Eastern Mindanao Command commander Lt. Gen. Luis Rex Bergante said that around 11 o’clock of Wednesday, the wreckage of the said fighter jet was found in Mount Kalatungan, Bukidnon where it crashed.
The bodies of its two pilots were found near the wreckage site and unfortunately succumed to death due to the crash.
On early morning of February 4, the said fighter jet was reported missing after it lost communication with the group during their Tactical Nights Operation mission, minutes before they reached their destination.
PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said that other aircrafts tried to re-establish communication with the said missing aircraft and failed to have contact until they have returned in Mactan, Cebu after their mission.
“A full-scale search and rescue operation, initiated on March 4, 2025, involved the PAF, Philippine Army, and local civilian volunteers in the mountainous terrain of Bukidnon. The operation prioritized pilot recovery. Utilizing signals from the aircraft’s emergency locator transmitter and locator beacons, PAF aircraft conducted aerial searches,” said PAF in a statement.
The disappearance of the FA-50 fighter jet is considered the first major incident involving a fighter aircraft in the history of the Philippine Air Force.
Presently, cause of the crash have not been confirmed, while the air Force grounded its FA-50 fleet while the investigations are still on going.
“We are committed to providing all the necessary support to the bereaved families during this difficult time. Meanwhile, we also request the nation’s prayers for the eternal repose of our fallen pilots, whose service and heroism we deeply honor,” PAF stated.