Fighter jet catches fire during takeoff

A Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet has caught fire at a base in Ibaraki Prefecture, north of Tokyo.

ASDF officials say the F-4 jet was moving on a taxiway of the Hyakuri base for a training flight when it caught fire at about 11:45 AM on Wednesday.

The fire was put out about 30 minutes later. Two pilots evacuated immediately and sustained no injuries.

The officials say the fighter’s left landing-gear leg likely broke on the taxiway, causing the fire. They are investigating what happened.

The plane is deployed at the base.

Hyakuri has 2 runways that it shares with the civilian Ibaraki Airport. Commercial flights at the airport have not been affected because the accident occurred in an area limited to ASDF operations.

Source and image: NHK