Militaristic aircraft from Japan's ASDF plunges into Ibaraki region
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) is currently investigating the cause of a crash involving an F-2 fighter jet that occurred off Ibaraki Prefecture on August 7, 2025. The aircraft crashed into the ocean during a training exercise some 150 kilometres northeast of the Hyakuri Air Base.
The pilot of the F-2 was able to safely eject from the aircraft and was rescued by an ASDF helicopter. The pilot was taken to a hospital, but fortunately, no serious injuries were reported. The ASDF has grounded its entire fleet of 90 F-2 jets except for urgent missions as a precaution while the investigation is ongoing.
According to reports, the F-2 took off from the ASDF Hyakuri base at 11.44am, and the pilot made an emergency escape after reporting an abnormality to air traffic control shortly after 12.30pm. The pilot had about 1,000 flight hours with no pre-takeoff inspection abnormalities found.
The ASDF chief of staff, Takehiro Morita, apologized for causing concern to the public at an extraordinary press conference on Thursday. No damage to nearby ships or facilities was reported at the crash site.
The investigation is ongoing, and no definitive cause for the crash has been announced yet. The full situation is not yet understood, making it difficult to provide a definitive explanation at this time. The ASDF is working diligently to determine the cause of the accident and ensure the safety of its pilots and aircraft.
References
- NHK News
- Kyodo News
- Reuters
- BBC News
- Associated Press
The pilot, amidst a training exercise, had to abandon the F-2 during a sports event, subsequently reporting an anomaly. The Japanese government has set restrictions on their F-2 sports fleet, keeping only urgent missions operational while the investigation proceeds.
