Taiwan grounding F-16 fleet after jet disappearance

Quick Summary

Taiwan's Air Force has grounded its F-16 fleet following an in-flight anomaly that resulted in a fighter jet and its pilot disappearing off the northeast coast. The incident occurred during a nighttime training mission, prompting immediate suspension of all training flights and fleet-wide inspections.

Search and rescue operations continue in difficult conditions as officials investigate the cause of the sudden descent. The grounding represents a significant operational pause for Taiwan's air defense capabilities.

The Disappearance Incident

An American-made F-16 fighter jet assigned to the Taiwan Air Force's Fifth Tactical Air Wing went missing on Tuesday night local time. The aircraft was operating out of Hualien Air Base when it disappeared in the waters off the northeast coast of the island.

According to Air Force officials, the fighter was separated from a group during a nighttime training session after the jets entered cloud cover. The F-16 suddenly descended quickly, and its altitude was just 1,700 feet when radar contact was lost.

The Ministry of Defense has identified the missing pilot as Capt. Hsin Po-yi. Officials remain uncertain whether Hsin successfully ejected from the aircraft, although he had indicated he would eject seconds before the aircraft disappeared.

Search and Rescue Operations

Search and rescue missions have been ongoing in the waters off Hualien County since the incident occurred. Multiple aircraft and vessels have been deployed to locate the missing jet and pilot.

However, rescue efforts face significant challenges due to rough seas. Tall waves and strong winds have complicated the search operation, making it difficult to locate debris or survivors in the water.

The operation continues as weather conditions and the vast search area present ongoing difficulties for rescue teams.

Technical Malfunction Suspected

Air Force officials provided technical details about the incident during a press conference on Wednesday. They reported that there appeared to be a malfunction of the F-16's main onboard computer.

The specific issue involved the aircraft's flight path no longer being displayed on the system. This critical information loss likely contributed to the sudden descent and loss of contact with the aircraft.

In response to this incident, Taiwanese air force officials have grounded all of Taiwan's F-16 fleet for inspections, and training missions have been temporarily suspended.

Fleet Context and History

Taiwan currently operates approximately 140 F-16s, specifically the older A/B models that have been upgraded in recent years. The country is expected to receive a batch of newer F-16V or Viper jets in the coming years to add to its fleet.

The F-16 is manufactured by American defense giant Lockheed Martin. The aircraft has been flying for over 50 years and remains a highly capable fourth-generation jet. The newest operator of the aircraft is Ukraine, which received a limited number from NATO partner nations.

This crash follows a similar incident in January 2022, when a Taiwanese F-16 went down off the island's west coast during training exercises. That aircraft had taken off from Chiayi Air Base in southern Taiwan. In response to that incident, Taiwan suspended combat training for the fleet.

It is not uncommon for fleets to be grounded after accidents, especially when the cause remains unclear. The US military has regularly employed similar safety measures.

Taiwan's Air Force has experienced strain in recent years due to constant scrambling to track Chinese military aircraft, which regularly enter the country's air defense identification zone. Taipei's smaller air force has dealt with higher operational tempos that have exhausted pilots, aircraft, and resources while stressing maintainers. Most recently, Taiwan held rapid response drills in reaction to China's massive exercises nearby.