TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Air Force lost contact with an F-16V on Tuesday (Jan. 11) while it was flying off the west coast of Taiwan.

During a training exercise off the coast of Chiayi County's Dongshi Township, an F-16V (Block 20) fighter suddenly disappeared from radar screens, and ground crews lost contact with it, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

The Air Force Command Headquarters of the MND at 4 p.m. stated that a single-seat F-16V fighter jet with the tail No. 6650 took off from Chiayi Air Base at 2:55 p.m. on a routine training mission. The plane was piloted by Flight Officer Chen I (陳奕).

However, at 3:23 p.m., the aircraft disappeared from radar screens after it flew over the Shuixi Shooting Range (水溪靶場). The Air Force has set up a forward command center and launched search and rescue operations.