Philippine military officials say rescuers have found the wreckage of a missing fighter jet and the bodies of its two pilots in a mountainous region of a southern province where they were deployed to fight communist rebels.

MANILA: Philippine rescuers found the wreckage of a missing FA-50 fighter jet and the bodies of its two crew members on Wednesday (Mar 5) in a mountainous region of the country's south.

Authorities have yet to disclose the identities of the pilots who died in the crash or the cause of the incident. An investigation is underway.

A Philippine air force fighter jet with two pilots on board has gone missing during a night combat assault in support of ground forces who were battling insurgents in a southern province, and an extensive search is underway,

The FA-50 jet lost communication during the combat mission with other air force aircraft after midnight Tuesday before reaching a target area in southern Bukidnon province.

The plane lost contact with other military aircraft during an overnight assault against communist insurgents. View on euronews

The jet lost contact with other fighters on the flight "minutes before reaching its target area", the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said in a statement. Air Force spokeswoman Colonel