UPDATE - Japan grounds F-2A fighter fleet after crash in Pacific Ocean

​​​​​​​ADDS GROUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK

By Riyaz ul Khaliq and Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Japan grounded its F-2A fighter fleet on Thursday after a crash in the Pacific Ocean during a training flight, according to the air force.

The Self-Defense Force F-2A single-jet fighter crashed off eastern Japan, but the pilot was rescued after he ejected before it crashed, Kyodo News reported.

The air force announced that all 90 F-2 jets were grounded unless needed for urgent missions such as responding to airspace violations.

Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force said the incident was reported soon after midday local time after it took off from Hyakuri Air Base in the Ibaraki province.

“No damage to vessels at the accident site has been reported so far,” said the air force, which is investigating the incident.

A T-4 military training jet crashed in the central province of Aichi in May, killing two crew members.

Separately, Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force began deploying its F-35B stealth fighter jets Thursday in southwestern Japan. It plans to operate the US-made aircraft from its carriers.

Three F-35Bs operated by US personnel travelled from Guam in the Western Pacific to the Nyutabaru Air Base in Japan’s southern Miyazaki Prefecture.

Japan plans to acquire 42 F-35Bs and deploy eight to the Nyutabaru Air Base by March.