Debris from missing JASDF fighter jet recovered in Sea of Japan

Vessel and helicopter crews of the Japan Coast Guard and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) recently located and recovered floating debris that has been confirmed as belonging to a military aircraft that went missing during a routine flight earlier this week.

Local media said aircraft parts and lifesaving equipment have been spotted in the Sea of Japan some five kilometres off the coast of Ishikawa prefecture, where Komatsu Air Base of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) is also located.

JASDF officials have since confirmed that the debris was from a Komatsu-based F-15DJ Eagle fighter jet that disappeared from radar shortly after it took off along with two other aircraft at around 17:30 local time on Monday, January 31. The aircraft had a crew of two when it went missing.

An investigation has been launched to identify the cause of the aircraft’s disappearance as coast guard and JMSDF assets are continuing to comb the surrounding waters for any trace of the two missing crew.