F-35 News. Remains of Japan ASDF pilot found

via Stars & Stripes...

Remains of the pilot of an Air Self-Defense Force F-35A stealth jet fighter that went missing off Aomori Prefecture on April 9 have been retrieved from the ocean, Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Friday.

The remains were found Wednesday and identified as those of Maj. Akinori Hosomi, an ASDF public relations officer in Tokyo said.

Both Iwaya and the ASDF declined to reveal further details, citing privacy and the wishes of the bereaved family.

On Monday, the Defense Ministry terminated search and rescue activities. The ministry has retrieved part of the jet’s flight recorder but its data was lost.

The ministry is now analyzing the cause of the crash by using radar data and communication records from three other F-35A fighters that were conducting a joint exercise about 135 km off Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture.

The ministry plans to use a waterproof camera to search the ocean area where the remains were found, although it believes it is unlikely that anything offering clues regarding the cause of the accident will be found, Iwaya said.

“It’s truly regrettable we lost the excellent pilot who had a bright future ahead. … I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family,” Iwaya told reporters.

Story here. 

May his memory be a blessing.

I can't help but wonder if the rush to put this plane into production didn't cost this aviator his life.

I hope not, but the bill is coming due.  Shortcuts, workarounds and other half measures will make Mr. Murphy laugh with glee and cause families to weep in sorrow.