Latest news with #ConsueloCastillo
Al Arabiya
05-03-2025
- General
- Al Arabiya
Two Philippine air force pilots killed in crash
Two Philippine air force pilots were killed after their aircraft crashed during an anti-insurgency mission in a southern province, military officials said on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear when the accident occurred but the Philippine Air Force said the FA-50 fighter lost contact with other aircraft involved in the mission in Bukidnon province shortly after midnight on March 4, prompting a search-and-rescue operation. The wreckage of the jet fighter, and the two pilots, were found in the Kalatungan mountains in the southern Mindanao region on Wednesday, military officials said. 'The wreckage points to it being a crash,' Air Force spokesperson Consuelo Castillo told reporters in a virtual briefing, adding an investigation is under way to determine the cause of the accident. The remaining 11 South Korean-built FA-50 jets have been grounded following the accident, Castillo added. The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50s from South Korea in 2014 as part of a military modernization program to boost internal security and improve its capability to defend its maritime borders against China in the South China Sea. 'Our intention is to put them back out of grounding immediately to not disrupt our operations too much,' Castillo said.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Two Philippine air force pilots killed in crash
MANILA (Reuters) - Two Philippine air force pilots were killed after their aircraft crashed during an anti-insurgency mission in a southern province, military officials said on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear when the accident occurred but the Philippine Air Force said the FA-50 fighter lost contact with other aircraft involved in the mission in Bukidnon province shortly after midnight on March 4, prompting a search-and-rescue operation. The wreckage of the jet fighter, and the two pilots, were found in the Kalatungan mountains in the southern Mindanao region on Wednesday, military officials said. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. "The wreckage points to it being a crash," Air Force spokesperson Consuelo Castillo told reporters in a virtual briefing, adding an investigation is under way to determine the cause of the accident. The remaining 11 South Korean-built FA-50 jets have been grounded following the accident, Castillo added. The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50s from South Korea in 2014 as part of a military modernisation programme to boost internal security and improve its capability to defend its maritime borders against China in the South China Sea. "Our intention is to put them back out of grounding immediately to not disrupt our operations too much," Castillo said.
Reuters
05-03-2025
- General
- Reuters
Two Philippine air force pilots killed in crash
MANILA, March 5 (Reuters) - Two Philippine air force pilots were killed after their aircraft crashed during an anti-insurgency mission in a southern province, military officials said on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear when the accident occurred but the Philippine Air Force said the FA-50 fighter lost contact with other aircraft involved in the mission in Bukidnon province shortly after midnight on March 4, prompting a search-and-rescue operation. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The wreckage of the jet fighter, and the two pilots, were found in the Kalatungan mountains in the southern Mindanao region on Wednesday, military officials said. "The wreckage points to it being a crash," Air Force spokesperson Consuelo Castillo told reporters in a virtual briefing, adding an investigation is under way to determine the cause of the accident. The remaining 11 South Korean-built FA-50 jets have been grounded following the accident, Castillo added. The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50s from South Korea in 2014 as part of a military modernisation programme to boost internal security and improve its capability to defend its maritime borders against China in the South China Sea. "Our intention is to put them back out of grounding immediately to not disrupt our operations too much," Castillo said.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Philippine fighter jet, 2 pilots missing on mission against insurgents
MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine fighter jet with two pilots on board has lost contact during a night combat assault in support of ground forces battling communist insurgents in a southern province, and an extensive search is underway, officials said Tuesday. The FA-50 jet lost communication during the mission with other air force aircraft around midnight Monday before reaching a target area. The other aircraft were able to return safely to an air base in central Cebu province after carrying out assaults, the air force said without providing other details for security reasons. A Philippine military official told The Associated Press that the incident happened in a southern province, where a counterinsurgency mission against New People's Army guerrillas was underway. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the sensitive situation publicly. 'We are hopeful of locating them and the aircraft soon and ask you to join us in prayer during this critical time,' Philippine Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said. The pilots could eject from the supersonic jets in case they encounter any problem that could lead to a crash. Rescuers could locate them if their emergency locating transmitters emitted signals. Castillo refused to say if rescuers have detected such signals but added that the military is 'still very optimistic that they are safe.' It was not immediately clear if the rest of the FA-50s would be grounded following the incident. The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50s multipurpose fighter jets starting in 2015 from South Korea's Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. The $331 million contract had been the biggest under a military modernization program that has been repeatedly stalled by a lack of funds. The Philippines plans to acquire another 12 fighter jets from South Korea. The military estimates about 1,000 communist guerrillas remain after decades of battle setbacks, surrenders and factional fighting. Peace talks brokered by Norway collapsed under previous President Rodrigo Duterte after both sides accused the other of continuing deadly attacks despite the negotiations. In 2023, the government and the communist rebels agreed to resume talks aimed at ending one of Asia's longest insurgencies. But the talks still have not restarted under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Aside from anti0insurgency operations, the jets have been used in a range of activities, from major national ceremonies to patrolling the disputed South China Sea.
Euronews
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Philippine fighter jet and two pilots missing after rebel mission
A Philippine fighter jet and its two pilots are missing after an overnight mission against rebel fighters in the south of the country, military officials have said. The FA-50 plane lost contact with other air force jets, which all returned safely to an air base in the Philippines' central Cebu province. An extensive search is now underway, with the military saying that it is 'still very optimistic that they (the pilots) are safe.' 'We are hopeful of locating them and the aircraft soon and ask you to join us in prayer during this critical time,' air force spokesperson Consuelo Castillo said. The counterinsurgency mission was against guerrillas from the New People's Army. The Philippine military estimates that roughly 1,000 communist fighters remain after decades of fighting. Peace talks between the communist rebels and the previous President Rodrigo Duterte broke down, with both sides blaming the other for the resumption of hostilities. The government and the insurgents agreed to restart talks in 2023, but that has not happened under the country's current leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Following the overnight incident, it was not clear whether the rest of the Philippines' FA-50s would be grounded. The Philippines, which acquired 12 of the jets in 2015, hopes to buy another dozen fighters of the same model and make from South Korea.
