A Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jet carrying two pilots on board has gone on a missing during a combat mission against communist rebels, military officials said on Tuesday, confirming an extensive search operation.
The plane lost communication around midnight Monday when it was on a mission in support of ground forces that are fighting New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in a southern province. Other jets under the mission managed to go back to their base in Cebu after their own attacks, officials said.
Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo assured the public that search and rescue teams are doing its best to rescue the missing pilots and aircraft. “We are still hopeful and we pray at this moment, during this difficult time,” Castillo said. 
There is no information from authorities on whether any signals from the emergency locator have been received but there is optimism about the pilots’ safety. FA-50 jets have ejection systems installed thereby ensuring better survival in cases of scrambs.
The Philippine military has been fighting in counterinsurgency for generations and about 1,000 guerrillas remain on the battlefield despite several peace talks. The missing aircraft is one of 12 planes bought from South Korea in 2015 and there are plans to purchase another 12 in the future.
Together with combat missions, the FA-50s contribute in national security, also in maritime patrols over South China Sea. It remains unclear whether the remainder of the fleet will be grounded by default after the issue.
