TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As the search continues for a missing Air Force pilot and an F-16V aircraft, a fishing boat may have located the crash site near Fengbin, Hualien.

The fighter jet, piloted by Captain Hsin Po-yi (辛柏毅), went missing on Jan. 6, with officials uncertain whether he was able to successfully eject from the aircraft. Early Saturday morning, a fisherman returning to port spotted an oil slick on the water, reported UDN.

The boat was idling in waters northeast of Shiti Fishing Port at around 8:30 a.m. when the fishermen spotted a patch on the ocean’s surface reflecting iridescent colors. The boat immediately reported its location to the Ministry of National Defense and the Coast Guard Administration.

On Friday, Defense Minister Wellington Koo (顧立雄) visited Hualien and gave a press statement indicating that a comprehensive search remains underway, with cooperation from the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard. Koo also met with family members of the missing pilot to express his condolences on behalf of the Lai administration, reported UPMedia.

The fishing boat was reportedly hired to assist with the search for the downed aircraft by a civilian military enthusiast group called “Taiwan ADIZ.” The MND said it received the information on the oil slick provided by the civilian group and will investigate the area.