Japan air force drone Global Hawk salvage off Tottori to start in earnest Oct 13
In short
Japan's Air Self-Defense Force says full-scale recovery of a Global Hawk reconnaissance drone that crashed off Tottori Prefecture will begin on Oct. 13, when a civilian salvage vessel is due at the site. An object believed to be part of the aircraft has been found in the sea. After recovery, the drone will be taken to Misawa Base in Aomori Prefecture to investigate the cause of the Sept. 15 crash.
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Japan's Air Self-Defense Force plans to begin full-scale recovery of a Global Hawk reconnaissance drone that crashed off Tottori Prefecture from Oct. 13, Air Staff Chief Takehiro Morita said at a press conference on Oct. 6. A civilian salvage vessel is to arrive at the site that day, according to Sankei Shimbun. After recovery, the aircraft will be taken to Misawa Base in Aomori Prefecture, where it was based, to investigate the cause of the crash. [ 1 , 2 ]
The drone disappeared from radar at around 1 p.m. on Sept. 15 about 50 km north off the coast of Tottori Prefecture, the ASDF said. Sankei Shimbun and TBS NEWS DIG both reported that the large unmanned reconnaissance aircraft crashed in the sea off Tottori. [ 1 , 2 ]
An object believed to be part of the aircraft has been found in the sea about 50 km off Aoyacho, Tottori City, according to the ASDF. On Oct. 2, a vessel working with an unmanned submersible, separate from the salvage ship, arrived in the area and began recovery work. Which part of the aircraft the object belongs to is still being confirmed; Morita described it as “a relatively large object thought to be part of the aircraft's structure,” Sankei Shimbun reported. [ 1 ]
TBS NEWS DIG reported on Oct. 7 that the recovery work was expected to enter full swing from the following week onward. The documents do not state when the salvage operation is expected to be completed, and no cause for the crash has been announced. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The crash of a large unmanned reconnaissance aircraft close to the Japanese coast prompted an at-sea search and salvage effort involving a civilian vessel and an unmanned submersible. The cause remains unknown, and the debris is to be examined at the base that operated the aircraft. Information so far comes from national outlets reporting a single Air Staff Chief press conference and earlier ASDF statements.
Key facts
- A Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft of the Air Self-Defense Force crashed off Tottori Prefecture in September. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The aircraft disappeared from radar at around 1 p.m. on Sept. 15 about 50 km north off Tottori Prefecture. [ 1 ]
- An object believed to be part of the aircraft was found in the sea about 50 km off Aoyacho, Tottori City. [ 1 ]
- A ship using an unmanned submersible arrived in the area on Oct. 2 and began recovery work. [ 1 ]
- Air Staff Chief Takehiro Morita said on Oct. 6 that a civilian salvage vessel will arrive on Oct. 13 to begin full-scale recovery. [ 1 ]
- The recovered aircraft will be taken to Misawa Base in Aomori Prefecture to investigate the cause of the crash. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The part of the aircraft the undersea object belongs to is still being confirmed. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Global Hawk that crashed off Tottori Prefecture belongs to Misawa Base. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Recovery is to be carried out by a civilian salvage vessel, with the aircraft taken to Misawa Base afterwards for a crash-cause investigation. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Full-scale recovery work is scheduled to begin on Oct. 13, according to Air Staff Chief Takehiro Morita. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Which part of the aircraft the object found under water corresponds to Sankei Shimbun reports the ASDF is still confirming this, and Morita would only describe it as a relatively large object thought to be part of the aircraft's structure.
- The cause of the Sept. 15 crash No document gives a cause; the aircraft is to be moved to Misawa Base for investigation after recovery.
- When the salvage operation will be completed The documents give only the Oct. 13 start of full-scale work and no finish date.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Sept 15: The ASDF Global Hawk disappears from radar about 50 km north off Tottori Prefecture. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Oct 2: A ship equipped with an unmanned submersible, separate from the salvage vessel, arrives in the area and begins recovery work. [ 1 ]
- Oct 6: Air Staff Chief Takehiro Morita tells a press conference that the civilian salvage vessel will arrive on Oct 13 to start full-scale recovery. [ 1 ]
- Oct 7: TBS NEWS DIG reports the recovery work is expected to enter full swing from the following week onward. [ 2 ]
- Oct 13: The civilian salvage vessel is due to arrive at the site and begin full-scale recovery work, after which the aircraft is to be moved to Misawa Base. [ 1 , 2 ]