THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
February 14, 2022 at 15:35 JST
An Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jet that crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff on Jan. 31 (Provided by the Air Staff Office, the Defense Ministry)
The Defense Ministry said on Feb. 14 that it has discovered the bodies of the two pilots of an F-15 fighter jet that crashed in the Sea of Japan two weeks ago.
It confirmed that it had identified a body found in the vicinity of the crash on Feb. 11 as one of the missing pilots and that a second body found Feb. 13 in the same area was identified as the other pilot.
The aircraft belongs to the Air Self-Defense Force’s Komatsu Air Base in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture. It had crashed into the sea about 5 kilometers west-northwest of the base immediately after takeoff on the evening of Jan. 31.
According to the ministry, the two crew members aboard the aircraft were Col. Koji Tanaka, 52, and Capt. Ryusei Ueta, 33. Both belong to the Komatsu Air Base’s tactical fighter training group.
Main parts of the aircraft were discovered in the seabed and an operation to retrieve them is expected to begin as early as Feb. 14.
The ministry says it will continue searching for the remaining wreckage.
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