Aerobatic pilots unharmed after jets collide in midair

Can't wait for all the "how can the JASDF defend Japan from China" comments.

Yeah, that's how small the margins are in aerobatics... one mistake (or a burst of wind), and you can be in huge trouble...

And no one was killed??

Anyone else here old enough to remember the Ramstein air show disaster in Germany in 1988? An Italian air force aerobatic team crashed killing 70 and seriously injuring 350. The safety margins are miniscule and the risks are huge.

@Elbuda Mexicano "And no one was killed??" Did you take the 15 seconds required to actually read the article? Let me answer your question with a 4 word quote from the article: "The jets landed safely"

I think the Canadian Snowbirds use the same jet, and they're pretty tough little things. Glad to see the pilots didn't have to eject. Or worse. I've seen enough formation flying to know those pilots were on top of things. Kudos to all involved.

Geez, the SDF forces seem to be going for a record number of accidents so far this year. Glad not only that the pilots are safe, but that they could land the planes safely.

Even the best swimmers can drown. It's fortunate that no one was injured.

I think Elbuda Mexicano is expressing astonishment, rather than asking literally. Nothing to get upset about either way.

I'm amazed myself. Given they're part of an aerobatic team, they've obviously skilled. Given the number of crashes this kind of flying sees, I'd say they quite brave too. Great no lives were lost, landing the planes too was icing on the cake.

TrevorPeace1Jan. 30, 2014 - 11:52AM JST I think the Canadian Snowbirds use the same jet, and they're pretty tough little things.

The RCAF Snowbirds use the Canadair CT-114 Tutor while the JASDF Blue Impulse use the Kawasaki T-4. But they are both Trainer planes. In the US, fighter models are used. The USAF Thunderbirds use F-16s and the USN Blue Angels use F-18s.

Instead of forcing schoolkids to give up music and arts education for lack of funding, the military should give up these "extracurricular" activities so the money could be put to better use.

Thank goodness nobody was injured! I love aerobatic teams, I spend the entire year looking forward to our yearly air show and I wonder if I will ever see the blue impulse in action but I live too far away from Japan I guess. I live in front of the airport and the flying displays happen exactly over my head and house and I am fascinated about the precision of it all yet sometimes I get inundated with fear if I see any of them planes too low, and some of the acrobatic pilots seem to love my country because we are a flat country and low is..pretty low.

What a tremendous waste of tax-confiscated money. Here's a little spot to easily cut wasteful spending AND reduce a bit of air pollution.

Sure the same could be said of many government spending programs, including the space program. It is about national pride and showing off. Virtually all major nations have aerobatic teams. Heck the USA has TWO of them. The NAVY's Blue Angels and the USAF's Thunderbirds. The BlueAngles and Thunderbirds have in the past have fatal accidents and non fatal incidents.

@ InakaRob that was hilarious I feel your pain its not the first time and not the last time you will have to ask E M to read the article. Exactly "The jets landed safely"

Lucky no one was killed.

Geez, the SDF forces seem to be going for a record number of accidents so far this year.

They are an arial acrobatic team. Near misses and accidents are part of the job. I have seen these shows and the skills are really incredible. I for one am very glad that everyone made it back okay.