A Japanese Air Self-Defense Force training aircraft crashed on Wednesday morning, leaving two crew members unaccounted for.
The incident occurred shortly after the plane took off from Komaki Air Base in central Japan’s Aichi Prefecture.
The aircraft involved was a T-4 jet, used for training purposes. It disappeared from radar only minutes after taking off. The search area has been focused around Iruka Pond, located roughly 10 kilometers northeast of the airbase. Emergency services quickly responded after residents nearby reported hearing a loud noise that resembled thunder.
The flight had taken off under normal conditions, but within two minutes, all contact with the aircraft was lost. Defense officials have confirmed that pieces of the wreckage have been found near the suspected crash site. The crew’s condition remains unknown, and a major search and rescue operation is underway involving local authorities and military teams.
The missing plane was reportedly flying a mission connected to Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture. Details about the specific nature of the mission or the planned flight route have not been released due to security reasons. The Defense Ministry is currently investigating the cause of the crash and checking maintenance records of the aircraft.
Local residents in Inuyama city, near the reservoir where debris was located, were the first to raise the alarm after hearing the noise and seeing emergency vehicles rush to the scene. Police and firefighters arrived quickly to assist with the operation.
This crash adds to a series of military aviation incidents in Japan. In April 2024, two SH-60K helicopters went down during a night training exercise, resulting in eight fatalities. The year before, a Black Hawk helicopter also crashed during a reconnaissance flight, claiming the lives of all ten personnel onboard.
The Japanese government has expressed concern over the rising number of such incidents and has pledged a thorough review of flight operations and safety measures. Search efforts are expected to continue until the missing crew members are found or more conclusive information emerges.