PAF says ‘grounded’ FA-50 fighter jets safe to fly

An FA-50 fighter jet at Clark Air Base in Pampanga. INQUIRER.net/ Faith Argosino

PAMPANGA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force has lifted the grounding of its 11 remaining FA-50 fighter jets, making the assurance on Monday that they are safety to fly.

In fact, the aircraft will be among the assets to be displayed in this year’s “Cope Thunder” exercise.

PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said they lifted the grounding of the FA-50 fleet last March 25 — a month after one of the aircraft crashed in Bukidnon province resulting in the death of two air force pilots.

“[R]ight now they are participating in the Cope Thunder 25-1 exercise,” Castillo said in an ambush interview at the Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

“Our FA-50 fleet has been inspected very well. It went through a very thorough inspection, and we have proven them airworthy,” she added.

An FA-50 aircraft and an F-16 fighter jet at Clark Air Base in Pampanga. INQUIRER.net/ Faith Argosino

READ: PAF lifts grounding of FA-50 jets; crash probe on final stage

Air assets

In an earlier statement, PAF said 729 of its personnel will participate in the “Cope Thunder” exercise, including nine air assets — four FA-50 fighter jets, three A-29B Super Tucanos, one S-76A, and one S-Huey.

On the other hand, 250 US Pacific Air Forces personnel will join the event, along with 12 F-16 fighter jets.

Asked about the ongoing probe on the Bukidnon crash, Castillo said PAF had “completed the investigation” and would release results “soon” or “hopefully by tomorrow.”

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, Bukidnon on the following day, along with the remains of the two pilots.

The FA-50s were acquired from Korea Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion during the administration of then-President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino Jr.