Latest news with #AirSelf-DefenceForce
Time of India
15-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Japan starts emergency inspections on nearly 200 military training planes after crash
A member of Japan's Self-Defence Forces held debris from an Air Self-Defence Force trainer jet after they retrieved from a reservoir in Inuyama, central Japan, following the trainer jet crash Wednesday (Image: AP) Japan 's air force has begun emergency safety inspections on all of its nearly 200 military training aircraft after one of the planes crashed minutes after takeoff, officials said Thursday. The T-4 training aircraft, operated by the Japan Air Self-Defence Force, or JASDF, and carrying two service members, crashed into a reservoir Wednesday, minutes after taking off from Komaki Air Base in the central Japanese prefecture of Aichi. While the search operation for the missing aircraft and the two crew members continued Thursday, the military announced that it had started emergency inspections on all remaining 196 of the training planes deployed at JASDF bases across the country. Their operation has been suspended since the crash and they will remain grounded until the cause is identified and safety checks are completed, Hiroaki Uchikura, the air force chief of staff, told reporters on Wednesday. The crash is the latest in a series of defence aircraft accidents in recent years and comes at a time when Japan is accelerating a military buildup to deter China's influence in the region and double its defence spending, raising concern that funding for weapons may be prioritised over safety measures. The crashed plane was a 36-year-old T-4 operated out of Nyutabaru Air Base, in the southern prefecture of Miyazaki. It wasn't fitted with a voice recorder or a flight data recorder , a setback for the investigation. Defence minister Gen Nakatani on Thursday announced plans to promptly fit the training aircraft with voice and flight data recording equipment. The JASDF said Thursday the plane experienced trouble when it reached an altitude of 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) about one minute after takeoff. Kyodo News agency said that air traffic control didn't receive any contact from the T-4 aircraft about an emergency. The force said the plane was lost from radar two minutes after departure and crashed into a reservoir called the Iruka pond, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) northeast of the air base. Witnesses told the NHK national broadcaster that they heard a loud noise like thunder at the time of the crash. Debris believed to be of the aircraft, as well as lifesaving equipment and helmets of the crew were found near the reservoir.
New Straits Times
15-05-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Japanese military trainer with two on board, crashes
TOKYO: A Japanese military training plane crashed near a lake shortly after take-off with two people on board, authorities said on Wednesday. "A T-4 training aircraft that belongs to the Air Self-Defence Force crashed at 3.08pm (0608 GMT) after radar lost [it] near a lake... after taking off at Komaki Air Base," in central Japan, Defence Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters. Nakatani said two people were on board, without revealing their identities. "We don't know what caused the aircraft to crash, but we will continue to do our utmost to save lives," he said, adding that the military has been carrying out search operations. An aircraft part was found near the scene, but it was unclear whether it was from the crashed plane, Nakatani said. The T-4 seats two and is a "domestically produced, highly reliable and maintainable training aircraft... used for all basic flight courses", according to the defence ministry website. The aircraft was flying around Lake Iruka near Inuyama city, north of Nagoya. "There is no sight of the plane yet. We've been told that an aerial survey by an Aichi region helicopter found a spot where oil was floating on the surface of the lake," local fire department official Hajime Nakamura told AFP. Aerial footage of the lake broadcast by NHK showed an oil sheen on its surface, dotted with what appeared to be various pieces of debris. Jiji Press said the local municipality had reported no damage to houses in the area.
New Straits Times
14-05-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Japanese military training plane crashes with two on board
TOKYO: A Japanese military training plane crashed near a lake shortly after take-off with two people on board, authorities said on Wednesday. "A T-4 training aircraft that belongs to the Air Self-Defence Force crashed at 3.08pm (0608 GMT) after radar lost [it] near a lake... after taking off at Komaki Air Base," in central Japan, Defence Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters. Nakatani said two people were on board, without revealing their identities. "We don't know what caused the aircraft to crash, but we will continue to do our utmost to save lives," he said, adding that the military has been carrying out search operations. An aircraft part was found near the scene, but it was unclear whether it was from the crashed plane, Nakatani said. The T-4 seats two and is a "domestically produced, highly reliable and maintainable training aircraft... used for all basic flight courses", according to the defence ministry website. The aircraft was flying around Lake Iruka near Inuyama city, north of Nagoya. "There is no sight of the plane yet. We've been told that an aerial survey by an Aichi region helicopter found a spot where oil was floating on the surface of the lake," local fire department official Hajime Nakamura told AFP. Aerial footage of the lake broadcast by NHK showed an oil sheen on its surface, dotted with what appeared to be various pieces of debris. Jiji Press said the local municipality had reported no damage to houses in the area.
Straits Times
14-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Japanese military training plane crashes with two on board
The aircraft was flying around Lake Iruka near Inuyama city north of Nagoya. PHOTO: AFP TOKYO - A Japanese military training plane crashed near a lake shortly after take-off with two people on board, the authorities said on May 14. 'A T-4 training aircraft that belongs to the Air Self-Defence Force crashed at 3.08pm after radar lost (it) near a lake... after taking off at Komaki Air Base' in central Japan, Defence Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters. Mr Nakatani said two people were on board, without revealing their identities. 'We don't know what caused the aircraft to crash, but we will continue to do our utmost to save lives,' he said, adding that the military has been carrying out search operations. An aircraft part was found near the scene, but it was unclear whether it was from the crashed plane, Mr Nakatani said. The T-4 seats two and is a 'domestically produced, highly reliable and maintainable training aircraft... used for all basic flight courses', according to the defence ministry website. The aircraft was flying around Lake Iruka near Inuyama city north of Nagoya. 'There is no sight of the plane yet. We've been told that an aerial survey by an Aichi region helicopter found a spot where oil was floating on the surface of the lake,' local fire department official Hajime Nakamura told AFP. Aerial footage of the lake broadcast by NHK showed an oil sheen on its surface, dotted with what appeared to be various pieces of debris. Jiji Press said the local municipality had said there had been no damage to houses in the area. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
14-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Japanese military training plane crashes with two on board
TOKYO: A Japanese military training plane crashed near a lake shortly after takeoff with two people on board, authorities said on Wednesday (May 14). "A T-4 training aircraft that belongs to the Air Self-Defence Force crashed at 3.08pm (0608 GMT) after radar lost (it) near a lake... after taking off at Komaki Air Base" in central Japan, Defence Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters. Nakatani said two people were on board, without revealing their identity. "We don't know what caused the aircraft to crash, but we will continue to do our utmost to save lives," he said, adding that the military has been carrying out search operations. An aircraft part was found near the scene, but it was unclear whether it was from the crashed plane, Nakatani said. The T-4 seats two and is a "domestically produced, highly reliable and maintainable training aircraft... used for all basic flight courses", according to the defence ministry website. The aircraft was flying around Lake Iruka near Inuyama city north of Nagoya. "There is no sight of the plane yet. We've been told that an aerial survey by an Aichi region helicopter found a spot where oil was floating on the surface of the lake," local fire department official Hajime Nakamura told AFP. Aerial footage of the lake broadcast by NHK showed an oil sheen on its surface, dotted with what appeared to be various pieces of debris. Jiji Press said the local municipality had said there had been no damage to houses in the area. - AFP
