Hualien: A rescue operation has been launched following the crash of an F-16V (Block 20) single-seat fighter jet east of Fengbin Township in Hualien County. The incident occurred during a routine training mission at 7:29 p.m. on Tuesday, as confirmed by the Air Force. The pilot, identified as Captain Hsin Po-yi, is believed to have ejected from the aircraft approximately 10 nautical miles from the coast.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Air Force has set up an emergency response center and commenced search and rescue efforts. The fighter jet had departed from Hualien Air Base at 6:17 p.m. for a night-time training exercise. Captain Hsin has accumulated a total of 611 flight hours, including 371 hours on the F-16V model, prior to this incident.
The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has dispatched vessels from its northern, eastern, and southern fleets to the crash site. Additionally, nearby commercial cargo ships have been contacted to aid in the search and rescue mission. Vessels from the Sixth (Hualien) Coast Guard Corps are anticipated to be among the first to arrive at the location.
A Black Hawk helicopter from the National Airborne Service Corps has been deployed to conduct an aerial search over the waters off Fengbin. Rescue aircraft have also reached the designated area, and a C-130 transport plane has released illumination flares to support nighttime operations, according to an airborne service official.
Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling shared on Facebook that joint rescue efforts involving the Ministry of National Defense, the Coast Guard, and airborne rescue teams are ongoing. A cargo ship located approximately 6.3 nautical miles from the crash site has also been enlisted to assist in the operation.