First Japanese F-2A loss

The ill-fated F-2A, serial number 43-8528, seen on short final for Hyakuri in December of 2024.

Report and photos by Robin Polderman

On Thursday 7 August 2025, around 12:30 local time, an F-2A belonging to the Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) plunged into the Pacific Ocean east of Japan.

While executing a training mission alongside three other F-2s, the pilot experienced a sudden loss of thrust and ejected safely from the aircraft, to be picked up by a military UH-60 a short while later.

The aircraft in question, F-2A with serial number 43-8528, was on strength of the 3rd Hikotai based at JASDF Hyakuri, north of Tokyo, at the time of the mishap. The accident marked the first time a single seat F-2A has crashed.

F-2A 43-8528 seen in better times.

Since the introduction in JASDF service, in the year 2000, a number of two seat F-2B aircraft were involved in accidents.

On 31 October 2007, an F-2B about to embark on a post-maintenance test flight crashed on the runway at Komaki after the crew’s pitch inputs became roll inputs (and vice versa), following incorrectly wired flight control computers. Both pilots survived but were injured.

The 2011 Tsunami flooded Matsushima airbase, resulting in the loss of five F-2B aircraft of the resident training unit 21st Hikotai.

Finally, on 20 February 2019 another F-2B was lost over the Sea of Japan when two pilots punched out following an unknown problem. This particular aircraft belonged to the 6th Hikotai, based at Tsuiki.

The loss of 43-8528 has lead to the grounding of the type while an investigation is underway.