Taiwan's Military Launches Large-Scale Search Operation Following F-16 Crash

Taiwan’s military has launched a large-scale search and rescue operation following the crash of a Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) F-16V Block 20 fighter jet off Hualien County. The pilot, Captain Hsin Po-yi, is still unaccounted for as of the latest official updates. According to AeroTime, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said the single-seat F-16, serial number 6700, took off from Hualien Air Base at 18:17 local time on January 6, 2026. The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has dispatched three ships and six patrol craft to support the maritime search and rescue effort.