Drone aircraft lands on Fukushima reactor building

A small 8.2 kilogram drone aircraft gathering data from heavily damaged areas of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant lost control Friday and landed on the roof of the No. 2 reactor building, plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501.TO) said, dowjones.com reported.

The vehicle, known as a T-Hawk, is about 20 centimeters in diameter and looks like a small jet pack. It is used primarily by the military for reconnaissance work in dangerous areas. It has been used at Fukushima Daiichi since mid-April to assist in damage assessment.

The company said there didn't appear to be any damage from the impact of the vehicle, with no fire or smoke observed following the accident. It wasn't known if the vehicle was damaged in any way.

TEPCO spokesman Junichi Matsumoto said that due to its small size and weight, the drone is "unlikely to crash through the rooftop and damage the reactor."

TEPCO said it may attempt to retrieve the unit using a long crane.

The No. 2 unit is the only one of the four reactors to retain its roof following explosions at units 1, 3 and 4 that destroyed much of their outer buildings.

TEPCO is undertaking a nine-month project to bring the heavily damaged reactor units under control following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.