Taiwan F-16V Pilot Missing: Intense Search Near Hualien After Night Drill Ejection
Search intensifies for a missing Taiwanese F-16V pilot who ejected during a night training mission near Hualien. Harsh sea conditions are hampering rescue efforts.
A routine night flight, then silence. Where is the missing TaiwaneseF-16V pilot? Rescuers have intensified their search after the airman parachuted from his fighter jet during a training exercise near Hualien county on Tuesday evening.
Taiwan F-16V Pilot Missing After Parachute Ejection
The pilot, identified as Hsin Po-yi, took off at 6:17 PM on January 6, 2026. According to the Central News Agency, he ejected from the aircraft at approximately 7:29 PM, after which all contact was lost. Hsin is a 2019 graduate of the Air Force Academy with over 611 flight hours.
The aircraft involved, a modernized F-16V, had accrued 3,894 flight hours. While the cause of the ejection remains under investigation, the air force has focused all immediate resources on the life-saving mission.
Search Operations Face Severe Weather Obstacles
The Taiwanese Coast Guard and air force have deployed three large vessels and six boats to scan the waters. They've placed marker buoys to track ocean currents and estimate the pilot's drift. However, the mission is complicated by severe sea conditions, including freezing temperatures and towering waves.
All mission aircraft have been standing by since Tuesday night, and search and rescue efforts have continued through the night despite the challenging environment.
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