The country has now grounded its 12 remaining F-35 fighter jets [Source: AFP]

The wreckage of a Japanese F-35 stealth fighter jet has been found, a day after it disappeared from radar over the Pacific Ocean.

The pilot of the plane, however, is still missing.

Parts of the plane have been recovered during search operations at sea.

It is not known why the plane, which is less than a year old, lost contact and crashed.

The fighter jet went missing Tuesday as it was flying 135km East of Misawa, a city in north-eastern Japan.