TOKYO, Japan – A Japanese F-35A stealth fighter jet with one pilot on board disappeared off the radar while on a training mission over the Pacific late Tuesday, the defense ministry said. The fighter jet went missing around 7:30 pm as it was flying some 135 kilometers (84 miles) east of Misawa, northeastern Japan, a ministry spokeswoman said. “First we are trying our best to carry out search and rescue operations,” Iwaya said. “We will continue our search and rescue operations all through the night.”The Self-Defense Forces and coastguard separately dispatched vessels to carry out rescue operations, he added. Japan is deploying F-35As, each of which costs more than 10 billion yen ($90 million), to replace the ageing F-4 fighter jet.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 09, 2019 23:48 UTC