1 killed as Japan navy helicopters crash

TOKYO — One death has been confirmed after two patrol helicopters of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, or MSDF, crashed over the sea on Sunday morning, according to the country's defense ministry.

Out of the eight members on board, one was reported dead, while the remaining seven are missing, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told the media, citing a possibility of the two helicopters colliding on Sunday morning.

In addition, a part of the helicopter, including the blade of the rotary wing, was found around the site, so it was determined they both crashed.

The MSDF spotted what is believed to have been helicopter debris during a post-accident search, Kihara added, noting that two flight recorders were found nearby and recovered.

The two SH60K patrol helicopters, each carrying four crew members, disappeared on Saturday night during a nighttime anti-submarine drill in the waters east of Torishima Island, part of the Izu Island chain, according to the defense ministry.

The two MSDF aircraft lost communication at around 10:38 pm and 11:04 pm local time, respectively.

A vessel that participated in the drill received an emergency signal one minute after the first helicopter lost communication, according to multiple local media outlets.

The SH60K patrol helicopter has a total length of about 20 meters and a width of more than 16 meters, with two engines and a crew of four people, the MSDF website showed.

Equipped with a dedicated device for detecting submarines, it is mainly mounted and operated on escort ships.

Search and rescue efforts for the missing crew were expanded on Sunday. Japan Coast Guard patrol boats and aircraft also joined the operation.

In April last year, 10 people died after a UH60JA helicopter of the Ground Self-Defense Force crashed into the sea in Okinawa Prefecture.

Xinhua - Agencies