Two Japanese air force crew members have been rescued after their fighter jet crashed into the Sea of Japan during a training exercise.
The F-2 fighter jet disappeared from the radar off the coast of Yamaguchi prefecture, about 30 minutes after leaving Tsuiki Air Base on the southern island of Kyushu at 8:48am, Kyodo News agency reported.
During a session of the Lower House Budget Committee, Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya apologized for having "caused much concern to local residents."
"We will make every effort to prevent a recurrence after conducting an investigation to determine the cause (of the crash)," Iwaya said.