One crew member died and seven are missing after two Japanese military helicopters crashed in the Pacific Ocean, south of Tokyo after possibly colliding during a training exercise.
The two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters were carrying four crew members each for nighttime anti-submarine training in the waters when they lost contact above the waters, off Torishima island, Japanese defence minister Minoru Kihara said.
A search and rescue operation has been launched to find the seven missing personnel with the MSDF and Air Self-Defense Force together deploying 12 warships and seven aircraft. Japan Coast Guard patrol boats and aircraft also joined the operation.
Mr Kihara said in a televised press conference on Sunday that a crew member who was found has been pronounced dead.
“I am very sorry that the situation has come to this point,” he said. “As for the other seven, we are doing our best to find and rescue them.”
It is “highly likely” that the two SH-60K collided with each other before crashing into the water, Mr Kihara said, adding that they are investigating the exact cause of the crash.
