Latest news with #AirSelf-DefenseForce
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Japan's air force confirms the deaths of 2 crew in a training plane crash
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's air force chief on Thursday confirmed the deaths of two service members whose training aircraft crashed last week. The T-4 plane with two aboard crashed into a reservoir minutes after takeoff from Komaki Air Base in the central Japanese prefecture of Aichi on May 14. Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura told reporters Thursday that autopsies showed that the two, aged 29 and 31 years, died two minutes after takeoff. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The air force grounded all remaining 196 of the training planes for emergency inspection. The crash is the latest in a series of defense aircraft accidents in recent years and comes at a time when Japan is accelerating a military buildup to deter China's growing influence in the region. Japan has doubled its defense spending, raising concern that funding for weapons may be prioritized over safety.
The Star
22-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Two Japanese soldiers confirmed killed in training plane crash
The T-4 training aircraft crashed near a lake in central Japan's Aichi region immediately after taking off. - Photo: AFP TOKYO: The Japanese military confirmed on Thursday (May 22) that remains recovered from the crash of a training plane last week were those of two soldiers. The Air Self-Defense Force's T-4 training aircraft crashed near a lake in central Japan's Aichi region immediately after taking off at its Komaki Air Base last week. "The deaths of its two crew members were confirmed today," Hiroaki Uchikura, head of the ASDF, told a news conference. "It is gut-wrenching that we lost these precious lives of our comrades," Uchikura said. A search after the crash soon led to the discovery of what appeared to be remains but officials could not immediately identify them. However, "a subsequent official analysis confirmed, much to our sorrow, that these belong to two soldiers on board that we had been looking for", Uchikura said. He said he "takes the accident seriously" and "will do our best to identify the cause and improve aviation safety". 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. Aerial footage of the lake soon after the crash broadcast by NHK showed an oil slick on its surface dotted with what appeared to be debris. - AFP
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Japan's air force confirms the deaths of 2 crew in a training plane crash
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's air force chief on Thursday confirmed the deaths of two service members whose training aircraft crashed last week. The T-4 plane with two aboard crashed into a reservoir minutes after takeoff from Komaki Air Base in the central Japanese prefecture of Aichi on May 14. Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura told reporters Thursday that autopsies showed that the two, aged 29 and 31 years, died two minutes after takeoff. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The air force grounded all remaining 196 of the training planes for emergency inspection. The crash is the latest in a series of defense aircraft accidents in recent years and comes at a time when Japan is accelerating a military buildup to deter China's growing influence in the region. Japan has doubled its defense spending, raising concern that funding for weapons may be prioritized over safety.
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Japan's air force confirms the deaths of 2 crew in a training plane crash
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's air force chief on Thursday confirmed the deaths of two service members whose training aircraft crashed last week. The T-4 plane with two aboard crashed into a reservoir minutes after takeoff from Komaki Air Base in the central Japanese prefecture of Aichi on May 14. Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura told reporters Thursday that autopsies showed that the two, aged 29 and 31 years, died two minutes after takeoff. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The air force grounded all remaining 196 of the training planes for emergency inspection. The crash is the latest in a series of defense aircraft accidents in recent years and comes at a time when Japan is accelerating a military buildup to deter China's growing influence in the region. Japan has doubled its defense spending, raising concern that funding for weapons may be prioritized over safety.
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Two Japanese soldiers confirmed killed in training plane crash
The T-4 training aircraft crashed near a lake in central Japan's Aichi region immediately after taking off. PHOTO: AFP TOKYO - The Japanese military confirmed on May 22 that remains recovered from the crash of a training plane last week were those of two soldiers. The Air Self-Defense Force's (ASDF) T-4 training aircraft crashed near a lake in central Japan's Aichi region immediately after taking off at its Komaki Air Base last week. 'The deaths of its two crew members were confirmed today,' Mr Hiroaki Uchikura, head of the ASDF, told a news conference. 'It is gut-wrenching that we lost these precious lives of our comrades,' Mr Uchikura said. A search after the crash soon led to the discovery of what appeared to be remains but officials could not immediately identify them. However, 'a subsequent official analysis confirmed, much to our sorrow, that these belong to two soldiers on board that we had been looking for', Mr Uchikura said. He said he 'takes the accident seriously' and 'will do our best to identify the cause and improve aviation safety'. 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. Aerial footage of the lake soon after the crash broadcast by NHK showed an oil slick on its surface dotted with what appeared to be debris. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
