Editorial: Crash of SDF trainer jet in Japan highlights need to probe frequent accidents

The Mainichi

17-05-2025

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) T-4 training aircraft recently crashed into a large reservoir in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, about two minutes after taking off from the prefectural Nagoya Airport. It is imperative to investigate the cause of the accident and thoroughly implement measures to prevent a recurrence.
After climbing to an altitude of about 1,400 meters, the plane suddenly descended while making a right turn, suggesting the possibility of an abrupt malfunction. There was no sign that the two crew members ejected.
There are residential areas and tourist facilities in the vicinity of the crash site, and there could have been a major disaster involving residents. The Ministry of Defense has a responsibility to thoroughly investigate whether any mechanical failures or pilot errors occurred.
T-4 planes are mainly used for ASDF pilot training and aerobatic flights. The May 14 flight was not for training, but an operational mission by two experienced pilots.
The aircraft involved in the accident was relatively old, having been manufactured in 1989, and did not have a flight recorder, a key piece of equipment to determine the cause of aviation accidents. Out of approximately 200 T-4 aircraft owned by the Ministry of Defense, about 60 are not equipped with recorders. The devices should swiftly be installed in all aircraft.
In recent years, the Self-Defense Forces have seen a series of aircraft accidents. In 2022, an ASDF F-15 fighter jet went down off the coast of Ishikawa Prefecture, resulting in two deaths. Then in 2023, a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter crashed off the coast of Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture, killing 10 people. The following year, two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters collided and crashed off the Izu Islands, resulting in eight fatalities
It is necessary to determine whether there are any common issues behind these frequent accidents
As Japan's birth rate declines, the Self-Defense Forces face a serious personnel shortage. Meanwhile, the security environment in East Asia is becoming increasingly severe, leading to more missions such as surveillance and monitoring. It has been pointed out that such circumstances are leading to increased burdens on personnel and insufficient training.
The Japanese government plans to increase defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product by fiscal 2027. However, if emphasis is placed on expanding equipment while efforts to protect the lives of personnel are treated as secondary, it would defeat the purpose.
Unless the Self-Defense Forces do their utmost to prevent recurrences and work to alleviate public concerns, trust in the forces could be shaken.