Search widens for US Marine Corps pilot missing in Japan

TOKYO — The search for a Marine Corps pilot who ejected from an F/A-18 jet in southern Japan was expanded to a wider area after daybreak Thursday, the U.S. military said.

The aircraft was on a regular training mission Wednesday when the incident occurred about 120 miles (190 kilometres) southeast of Iwakuni, the Marine Corps said.

Joint search efforts with Japanese military ships and aircraft were carried out through the night.

The identity of the pilot has not been released.