Japanese defence officials have lodged a formal complaint with the US after dramatic footage of a fighter jet flying below the permitted altitude was uploaded to YouTube.

The F-16 fighter jet captured cockpit views as it passed at high-speed through mountains in an apparent breach of regulations, while taking part in training in northeastern Japan.

After the footage was published online, officials from the defence ministry’s regional office issued a complaint to Misawa Air Base in Aomori, north Japan, where the jet is based, according to Kyodo News Agency.

Japanese officials reportedly urged the commander of the US base to abide by aviation laws, which prohibit aircraft from flying below an altitude of 150 metres in non-residential areas.

The dramatic YouTube footage, which runs for around 10 minutes, has been viewed more than 414,000 times since it was uploaded earlier this month.