Taiwan Fighter Jet Pilot Missing After Ejection During Night Training

A Taiwanese pilot is missing after ejecting from a Mirage 2000 fighter jet during a nighttime training exercise. The jet lost power around 8 p.m. near Hsinchu. Taiwan's air force relies on these French-made jets and US-made F-16Vs amid tensions with China, which claims the self-ruled island.

A Taiwanese pilot is missing following an ejection from a Mirage 2000 fighter jet during a nighttime training exercise on Tuesday night, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

The fighter jet reportedly lost power around 8 p.m. local time, prompting a search and rescue operation for the pilot.

The incident occurred in waters off the coast of Hsinchu, south of Taipei. Taiwan purchased the Mirage 2000s from France in the 1990s and uses them alongside US-made F-16Vs in its air force. This comes amid ongoing military exercises by China, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has threatened to use force to reclaim the island, despite its self-ruled status.

(With inputs from agencies.)