Philippine military officials say rescuers have found the wreckage of a missing fighter jet and the bodies of its two pilots in a mountainous region of a southern province where they were deployed to fight communist rebels.

A Philippine air force fighter jet with two pilots on board has gone missing during a night combat assault in support of ground forces who were battling insurgents in a southern province, and an extensive search is underway,

On Monday midnight, the FA-50 jet went incommunicado during the tactical mission alongside another Air Force aircraft before reaching a target area.

FA-50 fighter jet—one of a dozen operated by the service—and its two pilots are missing following an overnight tactical operation.

A Philippines FA-50 fighter jet is missing after flying a mission against communist rebels in the country’s south, military officials said on Tuesday, although hopes remain its two-member crew could still be alive.

A Philippine fighter jet with two pilots on board has lost contact during a night combat assault in support of ground forces battling Communist insurgents in a southern province, and an extensive search is underway,