Fatal clash in the skies. One dead, seven missing after Japanese helicopters crash
Two Japanese navy helicopters crashed in the Pacific south of Tokyo, resulting in at least one fatality and seven individuals missing, as reported by the press agency AP.
5:32 AM EDT, April 21, 2024
The incident happened during a night-time training flight. The Japanese Ministry of Defense suggests that the collision between the two helicopters is the likely cause of the crash. Currently, the body of one crew member has been found and retrieved from the water, with rescue operations ongoing for the seven others.
Minoru Kihara, the head of Japan's defense ministry, shared further details about the crew involved. He noted that each H-60K Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter carried four crew members. Communication with them was lost late Saturday evening.
Investigating the accident
While the exact cause of the crash remains unclear, Kihara hinted that a collision might have occurred between the helicopters before they went down. Rescuers at the site recovered the flight data recorder and metal fragments, likely belonging to the helicopters.
In response, the Japanese military dispatched eight warships and five planes to intensify the search efforts at the crash location.
