JASDF F-2 Kämpfer stürzt während des Trainingsfluges vor der Küste von Ibaraki ab; Pilot schlägt sicher aus

On the afternoon of August 7th, at around 12:30 p.m., a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-2 fighter jet crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture during a training flight. The sole pilot on board executed an emergency ejection and was rescued by a search and rescue helicopter. The pilot is believed to have survived without life-threatening injuries. The JASDF is currently investigating the details of the incident.

The crashed aircraft belonged to the JASDF’s Hyakuri Air Base, located in Ibaraki Prefecture. At the time of the accident, the F-2 was flying in formation with another aircraft. According to officials, the aircraft was equipped with a flight data recorder (FDR).

The F-2 has previously been involved in similar accidents. On February 20, 2019, an F-2 from Tsuiki Air Base in Fukuoka Prefecture became uncontrollable during a training flight due to pilot error and crashed into the Sea of Japan off Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Additionally, the JASDF suffered another fatal crash earlier this year. In May, a T-4 trainer jet from Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture crashed into Lake Iruka in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture shortly after takeoff. Both pilots on board died in that incident.

(Reported by Yoshitaka Matsuura)