One person has died and seven others are missing following a suspected accident involving two Japanese military helicopters. The helicopters, from the Japan Self-Defense Force (SDF), were operating in the Pacific Ocean near the Izu Islands during a late-night anti-submarine training exercise when the incident occurred. A spokesperson for the SDF confirmed the details of the accident, noting that one person was rescued but later died due to injuries.
Defence Minister Minoru Kihara provided updates on the ongoing rescue efforts, confirming that debris believed to be from the helicopters had been spotted in the sea. He acknowledged that the cause of the crash remains unknown, with initial assessments pointing to a possible collision between the two helicopters during the nighttime operation.
The incident began when communication was lost with one of the helicopters at 10:38 pm local time (1338 GMT), with an emergency signal received shortly afterward. Approximately 25 minutes later, contact with the second helicopter was also lost in the same area, indicating a potential mid-air collision.
The helicopters involved were Mitsubishi SH-60K models, primarily used for naval operations and typically based on destroyers. Given the absence of other aircraft or vessels in the vicinity, involvement by another country seems unlikely, according to Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF).
This latest accident follows a series of tragic incidents involving Japanese military aircraft. In April of last year, a Japanese army helicopter with ten people aboard crashed off Miyako Island in southern Okinawa, with no survivors. Similar accidents in recent years have raised concerns about the safety of military aircraft operations in Japan.
As search and rescue operations continue, Defence Minister Kihara emphasized that efforts are focused on saving lives and recovering critical evidence to determine the cause of the crash. The incident underscores the risks inherent in military training exercises, especially those conducted at night and over open seas.
