Japan’s Military Says Pilot Vertigo Likely Cause of F-35 Crash

A real-size mockup of a F-35 fighter jet is displayed at Japan International Aerospace Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan on Nov. 28, 2018. Tim Kelly/Reuters

TOKYO—Japan’s air force said on June 10 “spatial disorientation” likely caused one of its pilots to fly his F-35 stealth fighters into the Pacific Ocean in April, hitting the water at more than 1,100 kph (683 mph).

The Lockheed Martin Corp jet disappeared from radar screens during an exercise with three other F-35s over the ocean off northwest Japan on April 9. The 41-year-old pilot was killed.