Japanese military jet missing with crew of 6

TOKYO-- A Japanese military jet carrying six airmen has disappeared from radar over southern Japan.

The Defense Ministry said the plane disappeared Wednesday afternoon about an hour after takeoff from Kanoya base for what was supposed to be a three-hour flight. The search was suspended for the night after more than 300 troops joined the effort without success.

The ministry said the U-125 search-and-rescue jet lost contact while it was flying about 6 miles north of the Air Self-Defense Force's Kanoya base.

The twin-engine jet, belonging to the Iruma base near Tokyo, was inspecting aircraft navigation facilities in the southern region. The pilot is a major in his 40s.