The entire fleet of 140 US-made Taiwanese F-16s was ordered to cease flying after one plane crashed during night training.
The Taiwan Defense Agency said the F-16, a single-seat version, disappeared from the radar screen just two minutes after takeoff from Hualien Air Base, on the east coast of the island. on the evening of November 17.
According to reports from the office of leader Thai Anh Van, the rescue team is still trying to find the missing pilot. Ms. Thai told reporters on the morning of November 18, that the entire fleet of Taiwan's F-16s would stop flying until the cause of the accident was clarified.
Ms. Thai added that stopping the entire F-16 squadron will not affect the self-defense of the island: "The task of defense and combat readiness is always maintained to ensure security", she Thai said.
The F-16 squadron makes up about half of Taiwan's fighter force. In recent months, the F-16 squadron has to operate at a constant frequency, as Chinese military aircraft regularly fly into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone.
The F-16s are an important defense force for Taiwan against any possible Chinese military action. Taipei is working to add newer fighters and upgrade existing squadrons.
In August, the US approved the sale of 66 new F-16s to Taiwan, one of the largest arms sales to the island in years. Taiwan has also opened a new US-supported service center in Taichung, for repair and maintenance of US-made fighter jets.
In October, a Taiwanese F-5 crashed, killing the pilot. The entire F-5 squadron was then ordered to stop flying for technical inspection.