US-2 airframe 9905 was lost in a 2015 accident during takeoff or landing, the most demanding part of seaplane operation. The precise cause is uncertain in this account. The aircraft went nose-down into the sea, some occupants were injured, and the airframe was written off. The US-2 was still sharing duties with the US-1A, which made its final flight in 2017. The newer aircraft continued to take part in exercises, search and rescue, maritime reconnaissance, and patrols around disputed fisheries. These routine missions provided a Japanese presence at sea as well as a response to emergencies.
Chapter · 27:05-28:25
The 2015 loss and the US-2's routine work
A US-2 was written off during the transition from the US-1A, while the fleet continued rescue, reconnaissance, exercise, and fisheries-patrol missions.