Japan's air force confirms recovered object is part of crashed Global Hawk fuselage
In short
The Air Self-Defense Force said on 17 October that it had recovered an object believed to be part of the fuselage of a Global Hawk drone that crashed off Tottori Prefecture on 15 September. On 20 October it determined the object was part of the crashed aircraft's fuselage, and on 21 October it released photos showing it measured about 6 metres long. The undersea search continues.
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Japan's Air Self-Defense Force said on 17 October that it had recovered an object believed to be part of the fuselage of a Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft that crashed in September. The air force said a private salvage vessel lifted the object with a crane. It is to be taken to Misawa base in Aomori Prefecture, where the aircraft was stationed, so that the cause of the accident can be investigated. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 8 ]
According to the air force, the object was found about 50 km off Aoya-cho in Tottori city, at a depth of about 200 to 300 metres. The salvage vessel had been carrying out full-scale lifting work since 13 October. Nippon TV News said the vessel was a private one contracted by the air force. NHK reported that lifting work was still going on at the site on 18 October. [ 3 , 5 , 9 , 11 ]
On 20 October, outlets reported that the air force had determined that the recovered object was part of the crashed aircraft's fuselage and that the undersea search would continue. On 21 October, TBS and Yomiuri reported its size as about 6 metres long, about 1.6 metres wide and about 1.5 metres high. Yomiuri said the air force released photos of the section on 21 October, and that the Global Hawk is US-made, 14.5 metres long and 39.9 metres across the wings. The air force will continue to search for and recover the remaining parts, Yomiuri said. [ 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 19 ]
The aircraft lost communication during a mission flight and crashed at sea off Tottori Prefecture on 15 September. Sankei reported that its track disappeared from radar at about 1 pm. The air force had earlier announced that it found a relatively large object, thought to be part of the aircraft's structure, on the seabed at a similar depth. Sankei also reported that the air force was continuing to search the coastlines of Tottori and Shimane prefectures and had so far confirmed wreckage of the aircraft in both. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 10 ]
Outlets noted that this is the first crash of an Air Self-Defense Force drone. The documents do not state the cause of the crash. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The recovered fuselage section is being taken to Misawa base, where the air force says it will investigate the cause of the accident. The documents do not give a cause. Outlets note it is the first crash of an Air Self-Defense Force drone.
Key facts
- A large Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft based at Misawa base in Aomori Prefecture lost communication during a mission flight and crashed at sea off Tottori Prefecture on 15 September. [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 10 ]
- On 17 October the Air Self-Defense Force announced it had recovered an object believed to be part of the aircraft's fuselage. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- A private salvage vessel lifted the object with a crane from a depth of about 200 to 300 metres, about 50 km off Aoya-cho in Tottori city. [ 3 , 5 , 19 ]
- On 20 October the air force determined that the object was part of the crashed aircraft's fuselage and said the undersea search would continue. [ 12 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]
- The recovered section is about 6 metres long, about 1.6 metres wide and about 1.5 metres high. [ 17 , 19 ]
- The air force released photos of the recovered section on 21 October. [ 18 , 19 ]
- The crash is the first of an Air Self-Defense Force drone. [ 1 , 2 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Air Self-Defense Force announced on 17 October that it had recovered an object believed to be part of the fuselage of the crashed Global Hawk. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 , 8 ]
- The object was lifted by a private salvage vessel using a crane and is to be taken to Misawa base for investigation of the cause. [ 3 , 5 , 8 , 11 ]
- The air force determined on 20 October that the recovered object was part of the crashed aircraft's fuselage. [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]
- The recovered fuselage section measures about 6 metres by 1.6 metres by 1.5 metres. [ 17 , 19 ]
Still unclear
- The cause of the crash. The documents say the air force will investigate at Misawa base but give no cause.
- How much of the aircraft remains to be found. Yomiuri says the air force will keep searching for and recovering the remaining parts, but the documents do not say how many parts are missing.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 15 September, around this time, the aircraft's track disappeared from radar off Tottori Prefecture. [ 3 ]
- On 17 October, the Air Self-Defense Force announced it had recovered an object believed to be part of the fuselage. [ 1 , 2 ]
- NHK reported on 17 October that the Self-Defense Forces had lifted part of the fuselage from the seabed. [ 7 ]
- NHK reported on 18 October that lifting work continued that day. [ 9 ]
- On 20 October, outlets reported the air force had determined the recovered object was the aircraft's fuselage and that the undersea search would continue. [ 12 , 13 , 15 ]
- On 21 October, Yomiuri reported the air force had released photos of the recovered fuselage section. [ 19 ]