Jamaine Punzalan

A Philippine Air Force FA-50 takes off during the US-Philippines joint air force military exercise dubbed 'Cope Thunder' at Basa Air Base in Pampanga on April 11, 2024. Jam Sta. Rosa, AFP/File

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Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1744097511002FA50.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A Philippine Air Force FA-50 takes off during the US-Philippines joint air force military exercise dubbed &#x27;Cope Thunder&#x27; at Basa Air Base in Pampanga on April 11, 2024. Jam Sta. Rosa, AFP/File <br id="isPasted"/> </span></span></span></div><div><br id="isPasted"/></div><p>MANILA — A fatal FA-50 fighter jet crash in Bukidnon in March was not due to technical or mechanical problems, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said on Tuesday.</p><p>Colonel Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the PAF’s investigation pointed to a confluence of factors, including the “inherent risks of night flying over mountainous terrain” and the complexity of multi-aircraft combat operations.</p><p>“Whenever they are flying over mountainous terrain, there are other factors: visibility, wind condition,” Castillo said in a press briefing at Camp General Mateo Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.</p><p>“Besides that, it’s difficult to fly multiple aircraft. There&#x27;s a lot of coordination that needs to be done flawlessly,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/5/philippine-rescuers-search-for-missing-fighter-crew-1105">Missing fighter jet, crew found in Bukidnon mountain</a></div><p>Castillo ruled out mechanical error as the cause of the crash.</p><p>“Let us be very clear: Based on the data that was extracted and assessed, there was no technical or mechanical problem that caused the mishap,” the PAF official said.</p><p>She also urged the public to refrain from “finger-pointing” and appealed for more understanding and consideration.</p><p>Castillo said the PAF was committed to strengthening its safety protocols by prioritizing the well-being of its personnel and the preservation of its equipment in future operations.</p><p>“What is important is that the PAF recognizes that we need to improve on our safety protocols at the same time look at different aspects from mission planning to preparations and the way we execute using air tactics, techniques and procedures,” Castillo said.</p><p>“We also intend to have better coordination with our stakeholders, ground troops we are supporting, so that in the future, whenever we conduct these air support operations in tandem with other major services, we will be able to ensure the safety not just of our pilots but also our people on the ground,” she said.</p><p>Two PAF pilots died when their FA-50 lead-in trainer fighter jet crashed into Mount Kalatungan in Bukdinon on March 4.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/5/ph-air-force-mourns-death-of-two-pilots-in-fa-50-crash-in-bukidnon-2329">PH Air Force mourns death of two pilots in FA-50 crash in Bukidnon</a></div><p>The aircraft was providing close air support to ground troops in an operation against members of the New People’s Army in Barangay Iba, Cabanglasan town when it lost communication with the rest of the mission.</p><p>The wreckage of the FA-50 fighter jet and the bodies of the two pilots were found the next day.</p><p>The FA-50 fleet returned to “full operational status” after the Air Force lifted its grounding order on March 25.</p><p>Four of the FA-50s are being used in the first iteration of the Philippines-United States Cope Thunder 2025, which officially kicked off at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga on Monday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/7/philippines-us-launch-joint-drills-aimed-at-deterrence-1319">Philippines, US launch joint drills aimed at &#x27;deterrence&#x27;</a></div><div><iframe width="1250" height="703" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QyTxrcHz9m0" title="PAF FA-50 at F-16 US fighter jets sasabak sa Cope Thunder 2025 | TV Patrol" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>A fatal FA-50 fighter jet crash in Bukidnon in March was not due to technical or mechanical problems, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said on Tuesday.</p>

A fatal FA-50 fighter jet crash in Bukidnon in March was not due to technical or mechanical problems, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said on Tuesday.

Mechanical error ruled out in fatal FA-50 crash in Bukidnon

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Mechanical error ruled out in fatal FA-50 crash in Bukidnon

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 08, 2025 03:36 PM PHT

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