TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Air Force announced Thursday (Jan. 22) that search teams have precisely located the black box from the crashed F-16 fighter jet at a depth of 2,500 meters (8,202 feet) underwater. Air Force Inspector General Chiang Yi-cheng (江義誠) said the Air Force has sought assistance from international salvage teams due to domestic limitations. Retrieval operations will begin once weather conditions permit, Chiang added.
Capt. Hsin Po-yi (辛柏毅), a 29-year-old pilot, went missing after his F-16 jet crashed into the sea on the night of Monday (Jan. 6) near Hualien Air Force Base (花蓮空軍基地), located on Taiwan's eastern coast. The Ocean Affairs Council, Coast Guard Administration, National Airborne Service Corps, and military units collaborated to detect and locate the black box signal. Chiang emphasized that the Air Force will keep both families and the public informed of any new developments.
The Air Force paused all F-16 training and missions, conducting a special inspection named "Tian An No. 2" (天安2號) following the incident. The inspection concluded on Jan. 12, with wing commander Colonel Hu Chung-hua (胡中華) leading the 5th Wing (第五聯隊) back into full training and operational readiness. The 5th Wing is based at Hualien Air Force Base and operates Taiwan's fleet of F-16 fighter jets.
In response to increased Chinese military activities, Taiwan's military has adopted a strategy of corresponding surveillance to avoid attrition warfare, which could exhaust resources over time, Military experts suggest considering the use of U.S. MQ-4 drones to alleviate pilot strain. The MQ-4 Triton is an unmanned surveillance aircraft that could reduce demands on Taiwan's fighter pilots amid rising cross-strait tensions. ◼