The military has retrieved the bodies of the two pilots of the ill-fated FA-50 fighter jet of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) that crashed in Mt. Kalatungan in Talakag, Bukidnon.

According to the 4th Infantry Division (4ID), the pilots’ bodies were recovered near the crash site evening on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Troops of the 403rd Brigade carried the bodies by foot from the crash site. It took several hours before they reached Sitio Mandum in Barangay Mendis, Pangantucan town due to the challenging terrain.

“Dahil gabi, absence of light madilim siya and, of course, mabigat may challenges talaga. However, we are honored to sacrifice for the cadavers na transport going to Cagayan de Oro City,” 4ID Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Francisco Garello, said.

The remains were then loaded into a military ambulance and transported to a funeral home in Barangay Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro dawn on Thursday, March 6, for forensic examination.

“In line sa commitment ng 4ID to assist in anything na pwdeng mabigay towards our counterpart sa Philippine Air Force,” Garello added.

PAF did not disclose the names of the pilots, as of this writing, because there is no consent yet from their families.

Garello said some instruments, including a flight data recorder, that are helpful in the investigation were also recovered from the crash site.

A send-off ceremony was given for the fallen pilots at the airport in Barangay Lumbia.

The jet provided air support to the troops fighting at least 60 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Silae, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon past 12 midnight on March 4.

The jet went missing during the tactical night operations and lost communication with the other aircrafts shortly after midnight.

Search and retrieval operations were then conducted until the ill-fated jet was found the next day.