Pilot Of The Jet Remains Missing

Authorities have recovered at least a portion of a Japanese F-35 fighter jet that went missing during a training sortie Tuesday night off the east coast of Aomori.

Fox New reports that Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters that parts from the airplane's tail section were recovered from the ocean, "so we (believe) it crashed," according to a report from the BBC.

The plane was part of a four-ship sortie on a night training flight when it dropped off radar about a half hour after takeoff from Misawa air base. Iwaya said that 12 other aircraft based there will be grounded while the accident is being investigated.

The BBC reported that the pilot sent a signal to abort the mission shortly before radar contact was lost and all other communication from the airplane stopped.

The incident has raised concerns that Russia or China might locate the wreckage, leading to the acquisition of state-of-the-art military technology by those countries.

Japan first deployed the U.S.-made jets last year as it ramped up defense spending in response to threats from North Korea and China.

The U.S. military is assisting Japan in its search for the pilot and the missing airplane.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report