Philippine fighter jet missing during mission against rebels in south

A Philippine Air Force fighter jet with two pilots on board has gone missing during a night mission in a southern province. The jet was helping ground troops who were fighting against rebels. A big search operation is now taking place to find the jet and the pilots, officials said on Tuesday.

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The FA-50 fighter jet lost contact with other air force planes just before midnight on Monday. It was flying towards its target when communication was lost. The other planes in the mission safely returned to an air base in Cebu province. Officials have not shared more details due to security reasons.

A military officer, who did not want to be named, said the jet disappeared in a province where the army was fighting communist rebels. The exact location was not shared because the situation is sensitive.

"We are hopeful that we will find the pilots and the aircraft soon," said air force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo. "We ask everyone to pray during this difficult time."

It is not yet clear if the air force will stop using other FA-50 jets for now.

The Philippines bought 12 FA-50 fighter jets from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. The deal, made in 2015, was worth 18.9 billion pesos ($331 million). These jets are used for many jobs, including fighting rebels, patrolling the sea, and taking part in national events.

The search for the missing jet and pilots is still going on. Officials hope for good news soon.