By IDI

After the discovery of wreckage of the aircraft in the Pacific Ocean, Japan on Wednesday confirmed the crash of F-35A stealth fighter. The crash took place in northern Japan. The pilot of the aircraft is still missing.

In a news report, Japan’s public broadcast news network, NHK World said, “The Air Self-Defense Force says it determined that a crash had taken place after parts of the jet's tail were recovered from the area where the aircraft dropped off the radar on Tuesday evening.”

The aircraft was on a training mission along with three other F-35A, it added.

Quoting Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya, the report said that the remaining 12 of these fighters will remain grounded except for certain missions.

The American designed F-35A is one of the world leading stealth fighter operated by 11 countries and will be the mainstay fighter of Japanese air defence force.