Overview
- The single-seat jet departed Hualien Air Base at 6:17 pm local time and lost radar contact at 7:29 pm roughly 10 nautical miles east of Fengbin Township.
- The pilot, identified in reports as Captain Hsin, is believed to have ejected, and his location and condition remain unknown.
- An emergency response center was activated and a unified command deployed C-130 aircraft, Sea Gull and UH-60 helicopters, Coast Guard vessels, National Airborne Service Corps aircraft, and local fishing boats.
- President Lai Ching-te directed agencies to prioritize saving the pilot, and Premier Cho Jung-tai coordinated resources with the defense and interior ministries.
- The Air Force opened an investigation with no cause determined, and officials say challenging night conditions and rough seas are complicating the search.