PAF: Fighter jet crash in Bukidnon caused by ‘inherent risks’
An FA-50 fighter jet at Clark Air Base in Pampanga. | PHOTO: FAITH ARGOSINO / INQUIRER.net
RIZAL, Philippines — The FA-50 fighter jet crash in Bukidnon last March was due to “inherent risks” during night flying, according to the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the crash of the aircraft that resulted in the death of two pilots was caused by “many factors.”
“We emphasized that this mishap was caused by many factors that interpellate. Let us be very clear based on the data that was extracted and assessed, there was no technical or mechanical problem that caused this mishap,” Castillo explained in a press conference in Camp Gen. Mateo Capinpin.
“The confluence of factors was attributable to inherent risks of environmental factors such as night flying at the same time there are the operational risks — the complexity of operating with multiple aircraft in a combat situation,” she added.
READ: PAF says ‘grounded’ FA-50 fighter jets safe to fly
On March 4, Castillo reported that an FA-50 fighter jet went missing while en route to Mactan Airbase in Cebu.
The jet was found by ground troops in the vicinity of the Mt. Kalatungan Complex the following day, along with the remains of the two pilots.
PAF grounded its FA-50 fleet for almost a month following the crash until March 25.
Four of the 11 remaining FA-50 aircraft were among the assets to be displayed in this year’s “Cope Thunder” exercise.
The FA-50s were acquired from Korea Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion during the administration of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
