WASHINGTON \u2014 A U.S. Air Force F-35 deployed to Kadena Air Base in Japan lost a panel during a Nov. 30 training flight over the Pacific Ocean, the service confirmed Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An aircraft panel measuring approximately 12 inches by 24 inches dropped from an F-35A sometime during a \u201croutine training mission\u201d about 65 miles east of Okinawa, according to a news release from 18th Wing Public Affairs at Kadena Air Base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe item was discovered missing by the pilot\u2019s wingman as the fighter jets were coming in for landing\u201d and was later confirmed missing after a post-flight inspection, the release stated. Because inspections are also done prior to takeoff, it is thought that the panel fell off sometime during the flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the Air Force had not commented on or confirmed the mishap prior to Monday, the Japanese media has been aware of the incident since it occurred on Nov. 30. Nippon News Network featured footage of the F-35A showing the missing panel, which was then shared by aviation enthusiasts across Twitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was not clear whether any attempt will be made to recover the missing panel, or whether the loss of part of the F-35\u2019s structure causes any concerns from a safety or technology security standpoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\t