Four people were also found near the site. All of them were crew members of the aircraft and were confirmed dead.

On Tuesday morning, a rescue team including local police officers and firefighters, and an Air SDF helicopter found possible parts of a plane at a location some 3 kilometers east of the summit of Mount Hakamagoshi in the Hokkaido city of Hokuto, according to the ministry and other sources.

Based on features including the paint, the ministry concluded that the apparent plane parts were those of the GSDF's missing LR-2 liaison and reconnaissance aircraft. The site is scattered with debris from the plane.

In the afternoon, GSDF troops on a search mission found four people who were in GSDF uniforms.

According to the ministry, the four crew members confirmed dead were Capt. Isao Takamiyagi, 53, its captain, Maj. Tomonori Yanagida, 41, the copilot, and two engineers--Sgt. 1st Class Takamasa Okaya, 42, and Sgt. Hironobu Tamaki, 28. (Jiji Press)