- North Korean missile spotted by Cathay Pacific crew flying over Japan
- The passenger jet was travelling from San Francisco to Hong Kong
- Staff told ‘Be advised, we witnessed the DPRK missile blow up’
North Korea’s latest missile test was witnessed by crew on a passenger plane travelling from San Francisco to Hong Kong.
Staff on the Cathay Pacific flight witnessed the suspected re-entry of last week’s missile test while flying over Japan, the BBC reports.
The airline has since warned staff travelling across the North Pacific to keep an eye out when flying in the area.
Spotter: Crew on a Cathay Pacific flight flying over Japan en-route to Hong Kong from San Francisco witnessed the North Korean missile re-enter earth’s atmosphere
The November 29 nuclear rocket test proved to have been North Korea’s most powerful so far, an ICBM that may be able to target the eastern seaboard of the United States.
The missile did not travel far in terms of distance and landed off the coast of Japan, but officials said it reached an altitude of more than 1, 740miles.
It was reportedly spotted by crew on the Cathay Pacific flight as well as two Korean Air planes flying a similar route.
Pilots on two separate Korean Air flights heading to Seoul reported seeing a flash of light crossing the Sea of Japan.
Cathay Pacific’s general manager of operations Mark Hoey later told staff ‘today the crew of CX893 reported, “Be advised, we witnessed the DPRK missile blow up and fall apart near our current location”,’ the BBC reports.
New test: A view of the newly developed intercontinental ballistic rocket Hwasong-15’s test seen in this photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency
It comes as the U.S. and South Korea launches their biggest-ever combined air force exercise, a five-day drill is meant to improve the allies’ wartime capabilities, South Korea’s defence ministry said.
The US Seventh Air Force sent major strategic military assets that include six F-22 and 18 F-35 stealth fighter jets for the annual training exercise in the Korean Peninsula and about 12,000 US military personnel are participating.
North Korea’s state media said the joint drill, named Vigilant Ace, pushes the Korean Peninsula ‘to the brink of nuclear war’.