(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
Regarding the crash of the Air Self-Defense Force’s T-4 training aircraft on May 14, the deaths of two crew members have been confirmed. As Minister of Defense, I am deeply saddened by the loss of our precious personnel due to this accident. Both were exceptional personnel who underwent rigorous training with a noble sense of mission and responsibility as fighter pilots. They worked hard to execute their duties on the front lines of national defense, including measures against intrusions into Japan’s territorial airspace. They were irreplaceable and invaluable, not only to the Self-Defense Forces and the nation, but also to their families. I feel overwhelming grief when thinking of the families who lost their precious loved ones. I would like to express my sincere condolences. We will spare no effort in investigating the cause of the accident and reinforcing safety management across all units, including aircraft, so that accidents that lead to the loss of precious lives never happen again. At the same time, to overcome this sorrow and meet the mandate placed upon us by the people, we will continue to do our utmost to fulfill our national defense duties with renewed resolve.