MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine fighter jet with two pilots on board has lost contact during a night combat assault in support of ground forces battling communist insurgents in a southern province, and an extensive search is underway, officials said Tuesday.
The FA-50 jet lost communication during the mission with other air force aircraft around midnight Monday before reaching a target area. The other aircraft were able to return safely to an air base in central Cebu province after carrying out assaults, the air force said without providing other details for security reasons.
A Philippine military official told The Associated Press that the incident happened in a southern province, where a counterinsurgency mission against New People's Army guerrillas was underway. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the sensitive situation publicly.
"We are hopeful of locating them and the aircraft soon and ask you to join us in prayer during this critical time,” air force spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said.
The pilots could eject from the supersonic jets in case they encounter any problem that could lead to a crash. Rescuers could locate them if their emergency locating transmitters emitted signals.
Castillo refused to say if rescuers have detected such signals but added that the military is “still very optimistic that they are safe.”
It was not immediately clear if the rest of the FA-50s would be grounded following the incident.
The Philippines acquired 12 FA-50s multi-purpose fighter jets starting in 2015 from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. The 18.9 billion peso ($331 million) contract had been the biggest under a military modernization program that has been repeatedly stalled by a lack of funds. The Philippines plans to acquire another 12 fighter jets from South Korea.
The military estimates about 1,000 communist guerrillas remain after decades of battle setbacks, surrenders and factional fighting. Peace talks brokered by Norway collapsed under previous President Rodrigo Duterte after both sides accused the other of continuing deadly attacks despite the negotiations.
In 2023, the government and the communist rebels agreed to resume talks aimed at ending one of Asia’s longest insurgencies. But the talks still have not restarted under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Aside from anti-insurgency operations, the jets have been used in a range of activities, from major national ceremonies to patrolling the disputed South China Sea.
FILE - Two Philippine Air Force FA-50 fighter jets fly during a joint patrol and training session with the U.S. over the South China Sea, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. ( Philippine Air Force via AP, File)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Pat Connaughton had a career-high 43 points and a season-high 11 rebounds as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Detroit Pistons 140-133 in overtime on Sunday to close the regular season on an eight-game winning streak.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and several other regulars didn't play with both teams already locked into their playoff positions. The fifth-seeded Bucks face Indiana and the sixth-seeded Pistons take on New York in the opening round of the playoffs.
Milwaukee's lone usual starter to play was Kyle Kuzma, who scored 22 points in the first quarter before sitting out the rest of the game. Tyler Smith added 20 points and Pete Nance had 19 for the Bucks.
Malik Beasley scored 23 points to lead six Pistons in double figures. Lindy Waters III and Marcus Sasser each added 18 points. Sasser also had 10 assists.
Pistons: Beasley went 7 of 11 from beyond the arc to end the regular season with a career-high 319 3-pointers. Beasley entered the day just one 3-point basket behind NBA leader Anthony Edwards, whose Minnesota Timberwolves were playing later Sunday.
Bucks: All that mattered to Milwaukee was staying healthy for the playoffs. The Bucks accomplished that by resting most of their main guys.
With both teams deep into their benches, the Pistons erased an eight-point deficit in the last 15 seconds of regulation to force overtime. Waters tied the game by sinking a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
The list of players with career scoring highs Sunday included Milwaukee's Jamaree Bouyea (15), Connaughton, Nance and Smith as well Detroit's Bobi Klintman (15) and Tolu Smith (14). Klintman had never scored a point in an NBA game before Sunday. Tolu Smith also had eight rebounds in his NBA debut.
The Pistons and Bucks will begin their respective first-round playoff series either Saturday or Sunday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Detroit Pistons' Malik Beasley (5) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' Pete Nance during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Detroit Pistons' Malik Beasley drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' Pete Nance during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Detroit Pistons' Malik Beasley (5) reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Detroit Pistons' Daniss Jenkins reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard watch from the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Detroit Pistons head coach J. B. Bickerstaff yells to the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Detroit Pistons' Daniss Jenkins (24) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks' Jamaree Bouyea during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo watches from the bench with his son in his lap during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Detroit Pistons' Bobi Klintman (34) passes around Milwaukee Bucks' Pete Nance and Chris Livingston during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Stanley Umude, right, fouls Detroit Pistons' Malik Beasley during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
