THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) yesterday said a “confluence of factors” led to the March 4 crash of one of its FA-50 fighter jets while on the way to provide firepower to Army soldiers fighting communist rebels in Bukidnon.
The crash, which killed the jet’s two pilots, was not caused by materiel or technical problem, said Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma Consuelo Castillo.
In a press briefing at Camp Capinpin in Rizal, Castillo briefed the media on results of the recently-completed investigation on the crash at Mount Kalatungan
“The thorough investigation points to a confluence of factors, including the inherent risk of night flying over mountainous terrain combined with the complexity of multi-aircraft combat operations,” said Castillo.
“At the same time, there are the operational risks, the complexity of operating with multiple aircraft in a combat situation. These are the factors that interplay causing the mishap,” she added.
The aircraft was among several FA-50 jets that took off from Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu on March 4 to deliver firepower for soldiers fighting New People’s Army rebels in Cabangsalan, Bukidnon. The Air Force has said “multiple” jets were involved in the mission but would not give a specific number.
The ill-fated FA-50 lost communication with the other aircraft before reaching the target area, and crashed.
The remaining 11 FA-50s remaining in the Air Force inventory were ordered grounded days after the crash but were back on operational status on March 25 after thorough inspection.
Castillo said the Air Force is committed to strengthening its safety protocols to ensure the well-being of its personnel and preservation of its assets in future operations.
“That is our commitment to enhance our safety protocols so that we can ensure that our future operations are safe not only for our pilots but for the preservation of our equipment,” she said.
