TOKYO — The Japanese air force has initiated urgent safety checks on its fleet of military training aircraft, totaling nearly 200, following the recent crash of one of these planes shortly after takeoff, as stated by officials on Thursday.
On Wednesday, a T-4 training plane, managed by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and staffed by two crew members, plunged into a reservoir shortly after departing from Komaki Air Base located in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan.
While the search for the downed plane and its crew progressed on Thursday, the military declared that all other 196 training planes across various JASDF bases in the country are undergoing emergency inspections. The operation of these aircraft has been halted temporarily, and they will stay grounded until the crash’s cause is clarified and safety evaluations are concluded, according to Hiroaki Uchikura, the air force chief of staff.
This incident follows a trend of aircraft accidents within the Japanese defense sector in recent times and occurs as Japan intensifies its military expansion to counterbalance China’s regional influence. There is growing concern that increasing defense expenditure might prioritize armaments over safety protocols.
The aircraft involved in the crash, originating from Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture, was a 36-year-old T-4. Unfortunately, it lacked both a voice recorder and a flight data recorder, posing challenges to the investigation.
On Thursday, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani unveiled plans to swiftly equip the training aircraft with voice and flight data recording capabilities.
Reports from the JASDF on Thursday indicated that the aircraft encountered issues upon reaching a height of 4,000 feet (approximately 1,200 meters), nearly a minute post-takeoff. According to the Kyodo News agency, there was no emergency contact made by the aircraft to air traffic control.
The plane was reported lost from radar tracking two minutes after taking off and ultimately crashed into Iruka pond, a reservoir located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) northeast of Komaki Air Base.
Eyewitnesses recounted to NHK, the national broadcaster, having heard a loud noise reminiscent of thunder at the incident’s time.
Near the reservoir, rescue teams discovered debris believed to be from the aircraft alongside lifesaving gear and helmets belonging to the crew members.