The fallen fighter jet pilots honored by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were recognized for their dedication, loyalty, and bravery following the tragic crash of a Philippine Air Force (PAF) FA-50PH fighter jet.
The wreckage of the fighter jet and the remains of the pilots were found in the mountains of Bukidnon a day after the incident.
Pilots Maj. Jude Salang-oy and 1Lt. April John Dadulla were reported missing early Tuesday morning after their jet took off from Mactan, Cebu, for a mission in support of ground troops combating insurgents.
The aircraft was located in the Mount Kalatungan range, near the border of Pangantucan and Talakag, according to Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson Lt. Col. Salvacion Evangelista.
Lt. Col. Francisco Garello, chief of the 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office, confirmed that the 1st Special Forces Battalion of the 403rd Infantry Brigade was assigned to recover the remains of the two pilots.
Maj. Salang-oy, a native of Taloctoc, Kalinga, previously represented the country at the 2023 International Aerospace Symposium in South Korea, while 1Lt. Dadulla was from Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
Condolences poured in from the pilots’ families, colleagues, and friends, mourning their loss.
Following the incident, the PAF has grounded its entire FA-50 fleet and vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the crash.