Search continues for Taiwan Air Force F-16 pilot after ocean ejection during 6 Jan training mission

TAIWAN: Search operations continued on 7 January 2026 for an Air Force F-16 pilot who ejected over the ocean during a routine training mission, as unfavourable sea conditions hindered rescue efforts, according to Taiwan’s state-run Central News Agency (CNA).

The pilot, Hsin Poyi, ejected from a single-seat F-16 fighter jet at approximately 7:29 pm on 6 January 2026, the Ministry of National Defense said in a press release. The aircraft was conducting a standard training sortie at the time.

As of Wednesday morning, Hsin had not been located. Authorities said strong winds and high waves in the area were complicating search and rescue operations throughout the night.

The ministry said the aircraft, numbered 6700, took off from Hualien Air Base at 6:17 pm. Hsin is believed to have ejected about 18.5 kilometres east of Fengbin Township in Hualien County.

A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched immediately after the incident. According to the military, the overnight effort involved three naval ships, six vessels from the Navy and Coast Guard, and helicopter support from the National Airborne Service Corps.

The Coast Guard Administration said two patrol boats were dispatched to the scene. These vessels deployed self-locating datum marker buoys to help track sea currents and estimate possible drift patterns.

The administration also used a search and rescue priority planning system to analyse ocean conditions and adjust vessel deployment. Officials said this approach was aimed at improving efficiency amid rapidly changing sea conditions.

Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday evening that the marker buoys would guide rescue efforts. She expressed hope that rescuers could quickly determine current movements and locate the missing pilot.

The Coast Guard expanded the designated search area and contacted a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship, Harmony Ocean, which was operating about 18.5 kilometres from the site. The vessel was asked to assist by maintaining lookout duties.

The Fisheries Agency also issued notifications to nearby fishing vessels, urging crews to remain alert and report any sightings that could assist in locating the pilot.

The incident is the eighth training-related aviation accident involving the Republic of China Air Force in the past five years, according to official records. It is also the second accident involving an F-16V since the fleet completed its performance upgrade programme.

The previous F-16V accident occurred on 1 November 2022, when aircraft number 6650 crashed into the sea off Chiayi during a simulated ground-attack training mission. The remains of the pilot, Captain Chen Yi, were recovered several days later and confirmed through DNA testing, with the pilot declared deceased.

Taiwan has invested heavily in upgrading its air combat capabilities. The military completed upgrades of 141 older F-16 A/B aircraft to the F-16V standard in late 2023, significantly enhancing radar, avionics, and combat systems.

In addition, Taiwan has ordered 66 new US-built F-16V fighters, a fourth-generation multi-role aircraft intended to replace ageing platforms and strengthen air defence capabilities.

Delivery of the new aircraft had been scheduled for 2026.

However, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said recently that meeting the delivery timeline would be “challenging”, without providing further details.

The incident comes as Taiwan’s military continues to face sustained pressure from China, which claims the island as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to achieve unification.

In recent years, China has increased the frequency of fighter jet and warship activities around Taiwan. Military analysts often describe these operations as grey-zone tactics designed to strain Taiwan’s armed forces without triggering open conflict.

In the final days of 2025, the People’s Republic of China launched another round of military drills, dubbed “Justice Mission 2025”. The exercises involved a substantial deployment of vessels from the People’s Liberation Army Navy and the China Coast Guard, including live-fire missions.