Taiwanese F-16 fighter jet pilot missing, rescuers intensify search

The pilot took off at 6.17pm on Tuesday for routine nighttime flight training then parachuted from the aircraft at around 7.29pm near Hualien county, after which all contact was lost, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.

The pilot, Hsin Po-yi, graduated from the island’s Air Force Academy in 2019. The Taiwanese air force said he had logged more than 611 flight hours and the aircraft had accrued 3,894 flight hours.

After the incident was reported, both Taiwan’s air force and coastguard activated emergency responses, sending three vessels and six boats for the rescue efforts. However, due to severe sea conditions, low temperatures and high waves, nearby cargo ships and fishing vessels were also contacted for help, according to the coastguard.

The news agency said marker buoys had been placed in the area where the pilot was suspected to have landed to estimate his probable location and track ocean currents.

Maa Shyh-yuan, Taiwan’s deputy minister of the interior, told the news agency that all mission aircraft had been standing by since Tuesday night, and search and rescue efforts had continued through the night.