President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to conduct an immediate FA-50 fighter jet crash investigation following the deadly incident in Bukidnon that claimed the lives of two pilots.
According to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, the President wants to determine the exact cause of the supersonic aircraft’s crash.
Undersecretary Castro added that President Marcos expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the two Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots.
The President also extended his condolences to the families of the fallen pilots.
Currently, the Philippine Air Force has launched an official investigation to determine the cause of the fighter jet crash.
On Monday, reports emerged that an FA-50 fighter jet had gone missing during a tactical night operation.
The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) later confirmed that they had identified the crash site and recovered the bodies of the two pilots.
Eastmincom clarified that there was no indication of an explosion before the aircraft went down.
Meanwhile, the PAF stated that the loss of the supersonic aircraft is a significant setback for the Air Force.