Taipei: President Lai Ching-te on Sunday awarded a posthumous presidential citation to Air Force pilot Hsin Po-yi, who tragically lost his life after his F-16V fighter jet crashed during a nighttime training mission off eastern Taiwan in January. The ceremony, held in Hualien County, saw Hsin's father, Hsin Chin-yu, accept the honor on behalf of his late son.

According to Focus Taiwan, Hsin, who was part of the Air Force's Hualien-based 5th Tactical Composite Wing, was posthumously elevated in rank from captain to major and was awarded the Order of Loyalty and Valor. President Lai, during the ceremony, expressed his gratitude for Hsin's service, stating, "Your mission is complete. Rest assured that we will carry on protecting the country and family you loved. Thank you. You are relieved of duty."

President Lai recognized Hsin as a dedicated fighter pilot committed to safeguarding Taiwan's airspace and maintaining regional peace. He extended his sympathies to Hsin's family and directed the Ministry of National Defense to extend comprehensive support to them, particularly to Hsin's wife, who is also in military service.

Hsin, at the age of 29, embarked on the ill-fated mission from Hualien Air Base at 6:17 p.m. on January 6, piloting a single-seat F-16V, tail number 6700. At approximately 7:27 p.m., he communicated his separation from the lead aircraft due to cloud cover. Shortly thereafter, the jet experienced a rapid descent, leading Hsin to prepare for ejection before radar contact was lost around 7:28 p.m.

The lead aircraft pinpointed Hsin's last known location over waters approximately 31 nautical miles south of Hualien Air Base. Despite extensive search-and-rescue efforts, Hsin was not recovered. The presidential citation detailed the challenging conditions Hsin faced, including rapidly shifting weather and limited nighttime visibility, ultimately leading to his death in the line of duty.

The aircraft's flight data recorder, known as the black box, was retrieved in March and dispatched to the United States for analysis. Defense Minister Wellington Koo reported on Thursday that the analysis is ongoing, with results anticipated soon.