TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's military and coast guard continue searching the seas off Hualien, a county on Taiwan's east coast, on Thursday (Jan. 9). They are working to locate Capt. Hsin Po-yi (辛柏毅), whose F-16V fighter jet disappeared over 34 hours ago. Rescue teams press on despite challenging weather conditions, including 3-meter-high (approximately 10-foot-high) waves, remaining fully committed to the mission.
The Coast Guard Administration (海巡署) reported that, as of 9 a.m., it had deployed three ships, 12 boats, 68 vehicles, and 154 personnel. Vessels continue to patrol the accident area, coordinating with military and other rescue units. Shore patrols use binoculars for coastal searches, while the Hualien vessel, a 1,000-ton ship, set sail again at 10 a.m. to aid in the efforts.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) urged the nation to pray for Capt. Hsin's safe return during a ceremony at the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau (法務部調查局). The captain's family took to social media, asking for recommendations for local temples in Hualien to seek guidance on his whereabouts. They also expressed gratitude for public support amid the ongoing search efforts.
Search teams face harsh conditions, with wind speeds reaching 6 to 7 on the Beaufort scale (39-61 km/h or 24-38 mph) and gusts up to 9 (75-88 km/h or 47-55 mph). Air Force Inspector General Chiang Yi-cheng (江義誠) noted that the Second Operations Zone dispatched 119 personnel for coastal searches. He emphasized that search efforts will not be limited to 72 hours and will remain ongoing.