Japan Says Its F-35A Pilot Was Likely Disoriented Before Fatal Crash In April

CNN: Japan F-35 fighter crash: Pilot suffered 'spatial disorientation'

The sudden crash of a Japanese F-35 stealth fighter into the Pacific Ocean in April this year was likely caused by the "spatial disorientation" of its pilot, the country's defense minister said Monday.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force jet, among the world's most sophisticated aircraft, disappeared from radar while on a training mission with three other F-35s off northern Japan on April 9. There was no indication from the jet's pilot, Maj. Akinori Hosomi, of any problems with the aircraft before contact was lost.

The Ministry of Defense said Monday that Hosomi, a 41-year-old with 3,200 hours of flight experience, essentially flew the stealth fighter straight into the ocean during the night training mission.

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More News On Japan Announcing That Its F-35A Pilot Was Likely Disoriented Before Fatal Crash In April

Japan blames spatial disorientation for F-35 crash -- Defense News
Japan's military says pilot vertigo likely cause of F-35 crash -- Reuters
Spatial disorientation likely cause of Japanese F-35 crash, review says -- UPI
Japan says human error likely cause of F-35A jet crash -- AFP
Japan Says F-35A Pilot Was Likely Disoriented Before Fatal Crash in April -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes
Japanese pilot who crashed F-35 jet into the sea 'was likely to be suffering from VERTIGO', military reveal -- Daily Mail
Japan Blames F-35 Fighter Crash on Pilot Disorientation -- Bloomberg
Here's what happened to the F-35 that mysteriously disappeared -- We Are The Mighty
Here's what Japan says happened to the F-35 that mysteriously disappeared in the Pacific -- Business Insider
F-35 Pilot Was Disoriented When His Jet Hit the Water at More Than 683 MPH -- National Interest