TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) addressed Taiwan's parliament, the Legislative Yuan (立法院), on Thursday (Jan. 9) regarding the F-16 fighter jet crash in Hualien that left Captain Hsin Po-yi (辛柏毅) missing. The pilot reported issues with its Modular Mission Computer (MMC), but Koo replied that all MMC software systems have been stable since updates were completed last year.
Koo emphasized that no malfunctions occurred in the crashed F-16's MMC system over the past three months, adding that the software has been stable since January 2025. Addressing public concern about the F-16's Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS), Koo explained that Taiwan's F-16 BLK 20 jets, equipped with analog flight control systems, require modifications for integration. The Air Force expects to install the system by late 2026 and complete all installations by the end of 2027.
Public concerns arose because F-16 pilots lack cold-weather gear, unlike Dassault Mirage 2000 pilots, which raises the risk that Captain Hsin may face hypothermia after ejecting over the sea without adequate cold protection. Koo revealed that the military had procured cold-weather suits the previous year. Deliveries began late last year, with completion expected by March 2026.
Koo reported that the search operation for Captain Hsin involves 30 search and rescue flights, 22 naval and Coast Guard vessels, two drones, and 180 ground personnel. He reiterated the government's commitment to ongoing rescue efforts and emphasized the importance of ensuring pilot safety through timely equipment upgrades. ◼