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Japan F-35 fighter disappears over Pacific
TOKYO, April 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A Japanese F-35 stealth fighter jet with
one pilot on board disappeared from radar while on a training mission over
the Pacific on Tuesday night, the defence ministry said.
The fighter jet went missing at around 7:30 pm (1030 GMT) as it was flying
some 135 kilometres (84 miles) east of Misawa, northeastern Japan, a ministry
spokeswoman said.
It was not immediately clear if it had it crashed, the spokeswoman said,
adding: “We are still trying to search for the aircraft.”
The fate of the pilot was not immediately clear.
The plane lost contact about 30 minutes after taking off from Misawa Air
Base, public broadcaster NHK said.
The Self-Defence Forces and coastguard dispatched vessels to carry out
rescue operations, NHK added.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1917 hrs