JAPAN’S military said it is searching for a fighter jet that disappeared from radar shortly after taking off today.

“The track of an F15 jet disappeared from the data of the Komatsu control tower after take-off,” said a spokesman for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

The plane disappeared about 5km from the airbase in Ishikawa, off the Sea of Japan, he added.

The spokesman said the plane is designed for up to two personnel, but cannot confirm how many people are on board.

Japan has occasionally seen accidents involving its airforce, including in 2019, when an F-35A stealth jet crashed into the sea after the pilot suffered spatial disorientation.

The crash sparked a scramble to recover the pilot and secrets onboard the plane. – AFP, January 31, 2022.