Japan GSDF plane disappears from radar over Hokkaido, N. Japan: gov't

A Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) plane with four crew members on board disappeared from radar on Monday morning in the southern part of Hokkaido, in Japan's northernmost prefecture, the defense ministry said. 

A Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) plane disappeared from radar on Monday morning in the southern part of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost prefecture. [Photo: CGTN]

There were four crew male members on board the plane when it lost contact with a ground controller at around 11:50 a.m. local time, according to the defense ministry.

The four members included a pilot, a backup pilot and two mechanics, the ministry said.

The LR-2 reconnaissance plane took off in poor weather from Okadama Airport in Sapporo City at about 11:20 a.m. The light plane was heading for Hakodate Airport in the same prefecture.

The plane disappeared from radar about 30 km west of Hakodate Airport, the defense ministry said.

The twin prop plane is 14 meters in length and has a 10-person capacity. A stretcher for transporting emergency patients is installed in the aircraft, and the plane is also used for reconnaissance missions by the GSDF. 

The jet belongs to the GSDF's Northern Territory Air Force in Sapporo City and was scheduled to transport a patient from a Hakodate hospital. 

GSDF officials and firefighters are looking into the possibility the plane was involved in an accident and have deployed around 60 personnel to the area the plane disappeared from radar. 

Helicopters are also carrying out searches from the sky.

Japan's Meteorological Agency said their was light rain and cloud in the area and there was a low atmospheric pressure in the area where the plane went missing.

The JMA said due to a cold westerly front coming in the atmospheric pressure in the area the plane was flying could have become unstable.