Japan searches for missing reconnaissance drone

Tokyo - AFP - The Japanese military is searching for a "Global Hawk" reconnaissance drone that went missing off the country's western coast, while the Coast Guard reported spotting debris believed to be part of the drone.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) stated that contact with an RQ-4B Global Hawk reconnaissance drone was lost around 1:00 p.m. yesterday while it was flying over the Sea of Japan, approximately 50 kilometers north of Tottori Prefecture.

Chief of Staff Takehiro Morita told reporters that "search operations are currently underway with the participation of aircraft from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, as well as ships and aircraft from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force."

For his part, a spokesperson for the Air Self-Defense Force told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that he could not confirm whether the drone had crashed, adding, "What we know at this point is the loss of contact."

In contrast, a spokesperson for the Japan Coast Guard told AFP that "what appears to be a part of the drone" was spotted off the coast of Tottori, adding, "We cannot confirm that it belongs to the missing aircraft."