Massive Search Underway For A Missing Japanese F-35 Fighter Jet

Senior leaders from Japan's Ministry of Defense, US Forces Japan, Pacific Air Forces, and Lockheed Martin welcome the first operational F-35A Lightning II at Misawa Air Base, February 24, 2018. US Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton

The Aviationist: The Hunt for “Grey April”: The Massive Search Operation for a Missing Japanese F-35.

U.S. Joins Search Operation for Missing JASDF F-35 Lost in 10,000 Feet of Water.

Sections from the left and right rudders of a Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II, serialled 79-8705, the first of 13 Japanese F-35s assembled at the Nagoya FACO (Final Assembly and Check-Out), that disappeared in the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 were located by Japanese authorities at approximately 21:45 local on Tuesday, only hours after the aircraft was reported missing.

The aircraft disappeared from a flight of four F-35As at 19:27pm (10:27 GMT) 135km (84 miles) east of Misawa, in north-eastern Japan. The search continues for the aircraft’s pilot, whose identity has not been released but is being described as “a major in his 40’s”.

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Daunting salvage task awaits Japanese F-35 investigators baffled by crash -- Reuters
Japan, China, Russia ‘racing to find crash jet’ -- Asia Times
Japanese F-35 pilot called for mission to be aborted shortly before crash -- Ottawa Citizen
Japanese F-35 wreckage found in Pacific, but authorities are scrambling to find missing pilot -- ABC News Online
Japanese F-35 crashes. Now the search is on for wreckage and reasons -- CNN
Japanese F-35 stealth jet parts found as US destroyer joins in frantic search -- FOX News
US Destroyer & P-8 Join Search for Lost Japanese F-35 -- Breaking Defense
US Navy joins search for missing Japan F-35A pilot -- Stars and Stripes
The US and Japanese militaries are scrambling to find a missing F-35, preferably before someone else does -- Insider