Philippine Fighter Jet Missing After Rebel Mission, Search Underway

A Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jet and its two pilots have gone missing following an overnight counterinsurgency mission against communist rebels in the southern region, military officials confirmed.

• The jet lost contact with other military aircraft, all of which safely returned to their base in Cebu province.
• A large-scale search operation is underway to locate the missing pilots and aircraft.
• Air Force spokesperson Consuelo Castillo expressed optimism, stating, “We remain hopeful that they are safe and will be located soon.”

The operation targeted guerrillas from the New People’s Army (NPA), an armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The military estimates that around 1,000 NPA fighters remain active despite decades of conflict.