American military plane crashes into sea close to Japanese island

Eight people were on board a US military V-22 Osprey when it fell into the seas on Wednesday in western Japan.

The status of the people on board was not disclosed by a coast guard spokesman after the incident close to Yakushima Island, Japan.

According to a spokesman for American military stationed there, they were still collecting data regarding the incident, as reported by Reuters.

Witnesses claimed that the aircraft’s left engine seemed to be on fire as it plunged towards the water, and the disaster occurred at approximately 2:47 p.m. local time (05:47 GMT), according to Japanese network MBC.

The inquiry into the crash’s cause is ongoing. Rescue operations are under progress, and more information is anticipated, according to a source.

Three U.S. Marines were killed when an American Osprey crashed in August while carrying troops during a regular military drill off the coast of northern Australia.

In December 2016, a further aircraft made a crash landing in the ocean near Okinawa, the southernmost island of Japan. This led to the temporary grounding of the aircraft by the US military.

The U.S. Navy, the Japan Self Defence Forces, and the U.S. Marines all operate tilt-rotor aircraft, which can fly like a fixed-wing or helicopter.

Critics claim the hybrid aircraft is prone to accidents, which has made the Osprey’s deployment in Japan contentious.

Both Japan and the US military declare it safe.