Japan plane crash as air force training flight vanishes from radar and plunges to ground

A Japanese air force plane has crashed soon after taking off for a training flight in central Japan, the top government spokesperson said. The T-4 training plane belonging to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force had taken off from Komaki Air Base, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi. He did not give further details.

NHK television reported the aircraft, believed to be carrying two crewmembers, was lost from radar while it was flying above Inuyama city, and there were reports of what appeared to be an aircraft crashing into a pond.

Air Self-Defense officials said they were checking the report and could not confirm it.

No other details were immediately available.