Search for missing F-16 pilot expands; no results as of noon

Taipei, Jan. 9 (CNA) The military has expanded the scope of its search and rescue operation for the missing pilot of an F-16V fighter jet, deploying sea, air and ground forces around the clock, but has made no further progress as of noon Friday.

Army units stationed in Taitung County in southeastern Taiwan broadened their coastal search area during the day, covering the shoreline from Changbin Township to the mouth of the Beinan River in downtown Taitung City, as part of ongoing efforts to locate the missing pilot, Air Force Captain Hsin Po-yi (辛柏毅), the Army said.

The F-16V piloted by Hsin went missing off the coast of Hualien County in eastern Taiwan during a nighttime training mission on Tuesday evening.

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From Thursday night through early Friday morning, Black Hawk helicopters conducted low-altitude search flights over waters off Taitung and Hualien, while vessels from the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) also maintained round-the-clock search and rescue operations.

According to the CGA, as of 9 a.m. Friday, a total of four vessels and 16 boat sorties had been dispatched, along with 132 vehicles and 296 personnel for shoreline operations.

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Coast Guard vessels are continuing to search the accident area in coordination with the military and other rescue units, the CGA said, adding that sea conditions at the site include Beaufort force 6 to 7 winds, gusts up to force 9, and waves about 3 meters high.

The Army's Taitung Area Command said around 40 personnel are being deployed daily for coastal search operations.

The search initially focused on coastal areas and waters off Fengbin, the command said, adding that strong winds, high waves and southward-moving currents prompted authorities to extend the search Thursday to the coastlines of Changbin and Chenggong townships, and further southward to the mouth of the Beinan River.