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Tragedy struck late Saturday as two Japanese military helicopters met with an apparent accident off the coast, resulting in one confirmed fatality and leaving seven individuals unaccounted for, officials disclosed on Sunday.
A spokesman for Japan’s Self-Defense Force (SDF) confirmed the incident to AFP, detailing that while one person was initially rescued, they were later pronounced dead. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara conveyed that rescuers had identified parts of the aircraft in the sea, suggesting a collision between the two helicopters.
Kihara emphasized the priority of life-saving efforts, stating, “At this point, the cause is unknown, but firstly we do our best to save lives.”
The helicopters were reportedly engaged in nighttime drills aimed at countering submarines when the incident occurred. Despite retrieval efforts, communication was lost with one chopper at 10:38 pm off Torishima Island, with an emergency signal received shortly thereafter. Subsequently, communication with the second aircraft was also lost around 11:04 pm in the same vicinity which is the probable reason of the accident.
The helicopters, Mitsubishi SH-60K models from the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF), were primarily deployed from naval destroyers. NHK reported that given the absence of other aircraft or vessels in the vicinity, the involvement of another country in the incident is unlikely.
Japan’s heightened defense measures come amidst increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region and concerns over North Korea’s unpredictability. This tragic incident echoes past aviation mishaps, including a Japanese army helicopter crash off Miyako Island last April, resulting in the loss of all onboard, and a fighter jet crash in January 2022, claiming the lives of two pilots.
In light of the crash, both Japan and the United States have grappled with safety concerns surrounding military aircraft, with fatal accidents prompting temporary groundings and reassessments of safety protocols.
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