Horrified, 90 Kilogram Cockpit Canopy Released While Flying, Japanese F-2 Fighter Jet Makes Emergency Landing

Japanese Mitsubishi F-2 ASDF fighter jet illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Marine Cpl. Ashleigh Bryant)

JAKARTA - A Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) fighter jet lost its cockpit canopy weighing about 90 kilograms, while flying over a mountainous area in southwest Japan on Sunday.

Quoting Kyodo News on October 11, Japan's Ministry of Defense said there have been no reports of injuries or property damage as a result of the incident.

The canopy of the F-2 fighter jet fell from the plane while on a mission in response to a possible violation of Japanese airspace by foreign aircraft, causing the pilot to be hit by direct winds mid-flight, the ministry said.

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces were immediately dispatched to search for a canopy measuring about 150 centimeters long, 90 centimeters wide and 80 centimeters high, which is believed to have fallen in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture.

As a result of the incident which occurred at around 12:50 am, the fighter made an emergency landing at Tsuiki Air Base after the incident.

In addition, the plane is also said to have lost a ladder weighing 480 grams. Instead, another aircraft was deployed to replace the F-2 fighter jets for the capture mission, the ministry said.

The ASDF decided to carry out an inspection of all the aircraft and to see if any other parts had fallen from the F-2 fighter.

"We apologize for causing concern to local residents and the general public," the ministry said in a statement.

Separately, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Monday the incident was serious because it could pose a great danger to local people.

Meanwhile, Yoshitomo Aoki, an aviation expert, said such canopy loss was rare. However, loose or damaged parts can cause such incidents.

"However, the loss of the canopy will not affect the flight function of the aircraft," he explained.