Rescuers found wreckage of Filipino fighter planes and bodies of 2 pilots deployed to fight rebels

MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Rescue workers found the wreckage of a Filipino fighter and the bodies of two pilots in a mountainous area in the south of the country on Wednesday, where they were deployed on a mission to fight Communist guerrillas at night.

The FA-50 jet lost communications during combat missions with other Air Force aircraft after midnight on Tuesday, and then reached a target area in southern Burkidon Province. Military officials said another aircraft was able to safely return to the air base in Cebu province after the attack.

The military said the FA-50 jets were deployed along with other Air Force aircraft to provide combat support to troops fighting dozens of New People’s Guerrillas near the town of Kabagrasan in Burkidon.

“This is a wreckage,” said regional military commander Lieutenant General Luis Rex Bergante.

Regional military spokesman Colonel Francisco Galolo said there was no detail that the bodies of two Air Force pilots were found near the wreckage.

Pilots can encounter any problems from supersonic jets, but the Philippine Air Force said it is not clear whether the two pilots on the FA-50 were ejected when they were descending.

It is not clear what caused the crash of the supersonic jet, which was acquired from the Philippine government of the South Korean company about a decade ago. The Air Force said an investigation was underway.

According to the Philippine Air Force, 11 other FA-50s in the country took root after the incident.

The Philippines has started to acquire 12 FA-50 multi-function fighter jets from South Korea’s South Korean Aviation Industry Co., Ltd. since 2015. The contract of Pes 18.9 billion (US$331 million) is a military modernization program, the largest military modernization program that has been repeatedly stagnated by lack of funds. The Philippines plans to acquire another 12 fighter jets from South Korea.

The military estimates that about 1,000 Communist guerrillas remain in combat setbacks, surrenders and factional battles. Peace negotiations in Norway collapsed under former President Rodrigo Duterte, and despite his negotiations, both sides accused the other of continuing the fatal attack.

In 2023, the government and Communist insurgents agreed to resume talks aimed at ending one of Asia’s longest insurgents. However, negotiations have not yet been restarted under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In addition to counterinsurgency operations, these jets are used in a range of activities, from major national ceremonies to patrolling the controversial South China Sea.